JP2016515388A - Use of soluble corn fiber to increase colonic bacterial population and increase mineral absorption - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to fermentable soluble fibers such as soluble corn fiber (SCF), their use in increasing colon bacterial populations, and edible compositions useful for increasing colon bacterial populations.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims, in its entirety, US Provisional Patent Application 61 / 804,584 filed March 22, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates generally to fermentable soluble fibers, such as soluble corn fiber (SCF), and uses and compositions thereof. In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to a method for increasing a colonic bacterial population in a subject.

The gut microbiota forms a complex ecosystem that interacts with host cells and nutrients. The adult human body contains over 10 ¹⁴ live bacterial biomass and over 400 different species, representing the most extensive, intensive, and most diverse microbial community in the human body. The presence of intestinal bacteria is part of normal human physiology and is important for the development of intestinal function, taking energy from dietary carbohydrates, taking essential vitamins, and metabolizing environmental chemicals in the gut. In addition, recent studies have suggested that intestinal bacteria can contribute to fat storage and affect weight gain and weight loss. Intestinal bacteria are also involved in the maturation of the immune system, continue to communicate with the immune system, and are involved in protection against pathogens. The importance of intestinal bacteria in health and wellness has shown a strong interest in functional food ingredients to enhance the beneficial intestinal bacterial population.

Adolescence is an important life stage for bone health that provides a special opportunity to maximize mineral retention and prevent the risk of later osteoporosis-related fractures. Due to the increasingly deficient calcium in the diet due to reduced milk intake, there has been a strong interest in functional food ingredients that enhance calcium utilization.
[Summary of Invention]

  In certain broad aspects, the present invention provides a method of increasing one or more colonic bacterial populations in a subject, the method comprising orally administering to the subject a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of increasing one or more colonic bacterial populations in a subject, the method comprising orally administering to the subject a composition comprising soluble corn fiber.

  In one embodiment, the present invention increases in a subject one or more colonic bacterial populations selected from the genera Parabacteroides, Butyricococcus, Oscilbacter and Dialister Wherein the method comprises orally administering to the subject a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of increasing in a subject one or more colonic bacterial populations selected from Parabacteroides, Butyricococcus, Osiribacter and Dialista, the method comprising a composition comprising soluble corn fiber Orally administered to a subject.

  In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of increasing in a subject one or more colonic bacterial populations selected from the genus Bacteroides, Butyricococcus, Osiribacter and Dialista, wherein the method comprises fermentation. Orally administering a composition comprising a soluble soluble fiber (eg, soluble corn fiber) to a subject.

  In other embodiments, the present invention relates to a subject of the genus Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Aristipes, Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium, Clostridiales. ) Providing a method for increasing one or more colonic bacterial populations selected from the genus within the eye and from the genus within the family Ruminococcaceae, the method comprising a fermentable soluble fiber (eg, soluble corn fiber) Orally administering the composition to the subject.

  In another aspect, the invention provides a method of increasing in a subject one or more colonic bacterial populations selected from the genera within the genus Parabacteroides, Dialista, Akermansia, and Lachnospiraceae. The method includes orally administering to the subject a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber (eg, soluble corn fiber).

  In other embodiments, the present invention provides a method of increasing one or more colonic bacterial populations in a subject, the method comprising about 3 g / day of a composition comprising fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber. As mentioned above, it includes the step of orally administering at about 5 g / day or more, about 10 g / day or more, about 15 g / day or more, about 20 g / day or more, and further about 25 g / day or more.

  In other embodiments, the invention provides a method of increasing one or more colonic bacterial populations in a subject, wherein the method reduces the pH of the waste to a value less than about 5.5 (eg, the pH of the waste. The composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, orally administered to the subject. Such a decrease, for example, increases the bioavailability of calcium.

  In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for reducing the pH of excreta to a value of about 5.5 or less (eg, excreta pH of about 4.5), wherein the method is a fermentation such as soluble corn fiber. Orally administering to the subject a composition comprising a soluble soluble fiber.

  In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for increasing mineral (eg, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and / or magnesium) absorption in a subject, the method comprising a fermentable soluble fiber such as soluble corn fiber. Orally administering a composition comprising: to a subject. In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions as described herein, minerals are absorbed as divalent cations. In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions as described herein, the mineral is calcium. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions as described herein, the mineral is calcium and / or magnesium. In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions as described herein, the mineral is calcium and / or iron. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions as described herein, the mineral is calcium, magnesium and / or iron.

  In another aspect, the invention provides a method for increasing mineral (eg, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and / or magnesium as described above) absorption in a subject, such as soluble corn fiber. About 3 g / day or more, about 5 g / day or more, about 10 g / day or more, about 12 g / day or more, about 15 g / day or more, about 20 g / day or more, or about Orally administering at a rate of 25 g / day or more.

  In other embodiments, the invention relates to fermentable soluble fibers such as soluble corn fiber, and Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Aristipes, Bifidobacterium, Butyricococcus, Osiribacter, Dialista and any of these A food product comprising one or more bacterial populations selected from the group consisting of:

  In other embodiments, the present invention provides one or more (eg, 2 or more or 3 or more) selected from the genus Bacteroides, Butyricococcus, Osiribacter and Dialista (eg, each selected from a different genus) An edible composition comprising a bacterial population. The edible composition can optionally contain fermentable soluble fiber (eg, soluble corn fiber).

  In other embodiments, the invention provides for one or more (eg, two or more) selected from a genus within the family Parabacteroides, Diarysta, Akermancia, and Rachnospiraceae (eg, each selected from a different genus). An edible composition comprising a bacterial population of (three or more) is provided. The edible composition can optionally contain fermentable soluble fiber (eg, soluble corn fiber).

  In other embodiments, the invention relates to a genus within the genus Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Aristipes, Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium, Clostridiales (e.g., each selected from a different genus) And an edible composition comprising one or more (eg, two or more or three or more) bacterial populations selected from a genus within the family Luminococcaceae. The edible composition can optionally contain fermentable soluble fiber (eg, soluble corn fiber).

  The invention described herein can be advantageously understood with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows the fractional calcium absorption (average + SEM) between the first and second days after the absorption test of calcium using a bi-stable isotope for boys and girls in early youth This shows the effect of SCF. The general linear model, including treatment, sequence and phase during each period (0-24 hours and 24 hours-48 hours), shows higher calcium uptake for SCF than controls at 24 hours-48 hours. However (* P = 0.02), it was not high at 0-24 hours (P = 0.09). FIG. 2 shows a comparison of SCF treatment and control in fractional calcium absorption measured by urine collection at 0-24 hours and 24-48 hours. FIG. 3 illustrates a comparison of the average relative proportions of bacteria in subjects at the beginning (B) and end (E) of the clinical period, where the diet is soluble corn fiber (SCF) and control ( Con). Only families that represent more than 1.0% of the total community in at least one process are shown. Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean. Letters illustrate significant differences within each family (p <0.05). FIG. 4 shows a histogram comparing the average proportions of major bacterial gates at the start (B) and end (E) of each SCF diet treatment. FIG. 5 shows a dilution analysis of Chao1 diversity measurements made from excrement samples collected at the start (B) and end (E) of subjects during different SCF diet treatments. FIG. 6 is a Principal Coordinate Analysis of Jackknife Break Curtis distance of community composition code SCF dietary supplement samples collected at the beginning (B) and end (E) of the SCF treatment; PCoA). FIG. 7 shows a principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) of the Jackknife Bray-Euclidean distance of community composition code SCF dietary supplement samples collected at the start (B) and end (E) of the SCF process. FIG. 8 shows the principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) of Jackknife analysis of Unifrac G phylogenetic distance of community composition collected from subjects at the start (B) and end (E) of SCF treatment. It is. FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a method for producing a fermentable soluble fiber.

  Before the disclosed methods and materials are described, it is to be understood that the aspects described herein are not limited to particular embodiments, methods, or compositions, and can, of course, vary. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting unless specifically defined herein.

  Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the words “includes” and “include” and variations (eg, “includes”, “includes”, “includes” "Includes" includes the mentioned component, feature, element or step, or group of components, feature, element or step, but any other integer or step, or integer or It is understood to suggest that a group of steps is not excluded.

  As used in the specification and appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

  Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value and / or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another aspect includes from one particular value and / or another particular value. Similarly, where values are expressed in terms of approximations, it is understood that the antecedent “about” uses the specific value to form another aspect. It is further understood that each endpoint of the range is significant in relation to other endpoints or significant independently of the other endpoints.

  In aspects of the disclosure, the methods and compositions described herein can be configured by those skilled in the art to meet the desired needs. In general, the disclosed methods and compositions improve the intestinal microflora. For example, in certain embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure increase one or more colonic bacterial populations capable of fermentation and production of short chain fatty acids.

  For example, in certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber such as soluble corn fiber increases the number of one or more colonic bacterial populations, each Derived from a genus selected from the group consisting of Bacteroides, Butyricococcus, Osiribacter and Dialista, and any combination thereof. For example, in one embodiment of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the population of Parabacteroides. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the population of butyricococcus. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the population of Osiribacter. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the population of dialista. For example, in certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber such as soluble corn fiber is parabacteroides and butyricococcus; parabacteroides and osiribacter; parabacteroides Butyricococcus and dialista; osiribacter and dialista; parabacteroides, butyricoccus and osiribacter; parabacteroides, butyricococcus and dialista; Increase the population of Coccus, Osiribacter and Dialista; or Parabacteroides, Butyricoccus, Osiribacter and Dialista. Of course, other bacterial populations can be additionally increased. In certain such embodiments, calcium absorption is also increased (eg, as described below).

  For example, in certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber such as soluble corn fiber increases the number of one or more colonic bacterial populations, each of which is a Bacteroides. , Derived from the genus selected from the group consisting of butyricococcus, osiribacter and dialista and any combination thereof. For example, in one embodiment of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the Bacteroides population. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the population of butyricococcus. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the population of Osiribacter. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the population of dialista. For example, in certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, comprises Bacteroides and Butyricococcus; Bacteroides and Osiribacter; Butyricococcus and Osiribacter; Butyricoccus and Dirista; Osiribacter and Diarista; Bacteroides, Butyricoccus and Osiribacter; Or increase the population of Bacteroides, Butyricococcus, Osiribacter and Dialista. Of course, other bacterial populations can be additionally increased. In certain such embodiments, calcium absorption is also increased (eg, as described below).

  In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the number of one or more colonic bacterial populations, each of which is parabacteroides. , Bifidobacterium, Aristipes, Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium, Clostridiares genus (eg, Clostridium, Anaerofustis, Anaerococus, Coprococcus, Peptostreptococca From genus within the family Lumiococciaceae and any combination thereof; Seye (not Peptostreptoccocaceae), not Sporacetigenium; From a genus selected from the group that. For example, in one embodiment of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the population of Parabackteriodes. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the population of Bifidobacterium. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the population of Aristipes. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the population of Anaerococcus. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the population of catenibacterium. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the population of the luminococcus family. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the population of Clostridiales. For example, in certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber such as soluble corn fiber is parabacteroides and bifidobacterium; parabacteroides and aristipes; Bacteroides and Anaerococcus; Parabacteroides and Catenibacterium; Parabacteroides and Luminococcae; Parabacteroides and Clostridiares; Bifidobacterium and Aristipes; Bifidobacterium and Anaerococcus; Bifidobacterium and Clostridiares; Aristipes and Anaerococcus; Aristipes and Catenibacterium Aristipes and Luminococcae; Anaerococcus and Catenibacterium; Anaerococcus and Luminococcasse; Anaerococcus and Clostridiares; Catenibacterium and Luminococcae; Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, and Catenibacterium; Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, and Clostridiares; Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, and Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, and Anaerococcus; Luminococcus; Parabacteroides, Aristipes and Anaerococcus; Parabac Roydes, Aristipes and Catenibacterium; Parabacteroides, Aristipes and Clostridiares; Parabacteroides, Aristipes and Luminococcae; Parabacteroides, Anaerococcus and Catenibacterium; Parabacteroides, Anaerococcus and Clostridiales; Anaerococcus and Luminococcae; Parabacteroides, Catenibacterium and Clostridiares; Parabacteroides, Catenibacterium and Luminococcae; Parabacteroides, Clostridiares and Luminococcae; Aristipes and Catenibacterium; Bifidobacteria Bifidobacterium, Anaerococcus and Catenibacterium; Bifidobacterium, Anaerococcus and Clostridiares; Bifidobacterium, Anaerococcus Bifidobacterium, catenibacterium and luminococci; Bifidobacterium, clostridial and luminococci; Aristipes, Anaerococcus and catenibacterium; Aristipes Anaerococcus and clostrigiales; aristipes, anaerococcus and luminococcases; aristipes, ca Nibium and Clostridiares; Aristipes, Catenibacterium and Luminococcae; Aristipes, Clostridiares and Luminococcae; Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium and Clostridiares; Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium and Luminococcacee; And luminococci; catenibacterium, Clostridiares and luminococci; parabacteroides, bifidobacterium, aristipes and anaerococcus; parabacteroides, bifidobacteria, aristipes and catenibacterium; Aristipes and Clostri Giales; Parabacteroides, Bifido Cacterium, aristipes and luminococcuse; parabacteroides, bifidobacteria, anaerococcus and catenibacterium; parabacteroides, bifidobacterium, anaerococcus and clostridiares; Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Catenibacterium and Clostridiares; Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Catenibacterium and Luminococcae; Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Clostridiares and Luminococcae; Anaerococcus and Catenibacterium; Parabacteroides, Aristipes, Anaero Coccus and Clostridiales; Parabacteroides, Aristipes, Anaerococcus and Luminococcasse; Parabacteroides, Aristipes, Catenibacterium and Clostridiares; Parabacteroides, Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium and Clostridiares; Parabacteroides, Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium and Luminococcae; Parabacteroides, Anaerococcus, Clostrigiales and Luminococcacee; Clostridiares and luminococcases; bi Bifidobacterium, Aristipes, Anaerococcus, and Lumiococci; Bifidobacterium, Aristipes, Catenibacterium; Bifidobacterium, Aristipes, Catenibacterium and Luminococcassee; Bifidobacterium, Aristipes, Clostridiares and Luminococcassee; Bifidobacterium, Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium and Clostridiares; Bifidobacterium, Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium and Luminococcassee; Bifidobacterium, Anaero Cassius, Clostridiares and Luminococcassee; Bifidobacterium, Catenibacterium, Clostridiares and Luminococcae; Aristipes, Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium and Clostridiares; Increase the population of Pes, Anaerococcus, Clostridiares and Luminococcae; Aristipes, Catenibacterium, Clostridiares and Luminococcae; or Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium, Clostridiares and Luminococcae. Of course, any combination of 5, 6 or 7 colonic bacterial populations can be increased by the methods described herein, each of Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Aristipes, Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium Those skilled in the art will understand that they are derived from different genera selected from the group consisting of: a genus within the order of the Clostridiares; Of course, other bacterial populations can be additionally increased.

  In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the number of one or more colonic bacterial populations, each of which is parabacteroides. , Derived from a different genus selected from the group consisting of genus (e.g., not lacnospira) within the family, Dialista, Akermancia, and Lacnospiraceae. For example, in one embodiment of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the population of Parabacteroides. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the population of dialista. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the population of Akermancia. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, increases the population of the Lachnospiraceae. For example, in certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, administration of a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber such as soluble corn fiber is parabacteroides and dialista; parabacteroides and akermancia; Diarista and Akermancia; Dialista and Lacnospiraceae; Akermancia and Lacnospiraceae; Parabacteroides, Dialista and Akermancia; Parabacteroides, Dialista and Lacnospiraceae; Increase. Of course, other bacterial populations can be additionally increased.

  In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, the one or more colonic bacterial populations (eg, as described above) are about 5% or more, about 10% or more, about 20 compared to untreated subjects. %, About 25%, about 30%, about 35%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%, about 80%, or even about 100% or more. In certain such embodiments, the colonic bacterial population increases at about 500% or less. In other such embodiments, the colonic bacterial population increases at about 400% or less. In other such embodiments, the colonic bacterial population increases at about 300% or less. In other such embodiments, the colonic bacterial population increases at about 200% or less. In other such embodiments, the colonic bacterial population increases at about 100% or less. In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, each of the one or more colonic bacterial populations (eg, as described above) is about 5% or more, about 10% or more, compared to the untreated subject, It increases at about 20% or more, about 50% or more, and further about 100% or more. This means that each of these bacteria may be affected at different rates independently of each other (eg, one bacterium can increase by 50% in the population, while the other bacterium only has 25% Can increase). In certain such embodiments, each colonic bacterial population increases by about 500% or less. In other such embodiments, each colonic bacterial population increases at about 400% or less. In other such embodiments, each colonic bacterial population increases by about 300% or less. In other such embodiments, each colonic bacterial population increases by about 200% or less. In other such embodiments, each colonic bacterial population increases by about 100% or less.

  In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, the percentage of one or more colonic bacterial populations (eg, as described above) as a percentage of total colonic bacteria is about 20% relative to untreated subjects. As mentioned above, it increases at about 25% or more, about 50% or more, about 100% or more, about 200% or more, and further about 300% or more. In certain such embodiments, the percentage of one or more colonic bacterial populations increases by about 700% or less as a percentage of total colonic bacteria. In other such embodiments, the percentage of one or more colonic bacterial populations increases by about 600% or less as a percentage of the total colonic bacteria. In other such embodiments, as a percentage of total colon bacteria, the proportion of one or more colon bacteria populations increases by about 500% or less. In other such embodiments, as a percentage of total colon bacteria, the proportion of one or more colon bacteria populations increases at about 400% or less. In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, each percentage of one or more colonic bacterial populations (eg, as described above) (ie, as a percentage of total colonic bacteria) is untreated. In comparison, it increases at about 20% or more, about 25% or more, about 50% or more, about 100% or more, about 200% or more, and further about 300% or more. This means that each of these bacteria may be affected at different rates independently of each other (eg, one bacterium can increase by 50% in the population, while the other bacterium only has 25% Can increase). In certain such embodiments, the respective percentages increase by about 500% or less. In other such embodiments, the respective percentage increases at about 400% or less. In other such embodiments, the respective percentages increase by about 300% or less. In other such embodiments, the respective proportions increase by about 200% or less. In such other embodiments, the respective proportions increase by about 100% or less.

  In other embodiments, a method of increasing one or more colonic bacterial populations in a subject comprises orally administering to the subject a fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber. In certain such embodiments, oral administration reduces the pH of the excreta (eg, as described below, to a value of about 5.5 or less, such as a pH value of about 7 to about 4.5. To decrease the value). Such a decrease can, for example, increase the bioavailability of minerals (eg, divalent minerals such as calcium as described above).

  In other embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also reduce the pH of feces in a subject by orally administering to the subject a fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber. For example, in certain embodiments of the methods and compositions as described herein, the pH of the excreta is about 1.5 pH units or more, about 2 pH units or more, or even about 2.5 pH units or more compared to an untreated subject. To decrease. In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions as described herein, the pH of the waste is reduced to about 5.5 or less, about 5 or less, or even about 4.5 or less. In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions as described herein, the pH of the stool is about 4 to about 5.5, about 4.5 to about 5.5, about 4 to about 5, or about 4. Decrease to a value in the range of 5 to about 5. In certain embodiments, the pH of the waste is about 4.5, for example, is reduced from about 7 to about 4.5.

  In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, the fermentable soluble fiber is a soluble corn fiber. Soluble corn fiber is a starch-derived soluble fiber made from corn and containing oligosaccharides that are difficult to digest, oligosaccharides that are slowly digestible, or combinations thereof. Soluble corn fiber may be produced through hydrolysis of corn starch and contains greater than about 70% fiber and less than about 20% mono- and disaccharide sugars. The glucose units of oligosaccharides are linked primarily by α-1,4 glycosidic bonds, but can also contain α-1,6, α-1,3, and α-1,2 bonds.

  In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, the soluble corn fiber has a fiber content ranging from about 70% to about 100% (w / w). In other embodiments, the soluble corn fiber has a fiber content of about 70% to about 90%, or about 70% to about 95%, or about 70% to about 100%, about 75% to about 85%, or about 75. % To about 90%, or about 75% to about 95%, or about 75% to about 100%, or about 70% to about 85% (w / w). In one embodiment, the fiber content is about 70% (w / w). In other embodiments, the fiber content is about 85% (w / w). Those skilled in the art will recognize that any suitable method whose fiber content is known in the art, such as enzyme mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography, high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), pulsed amperometric detection method. Can be measured by high performance anion exchange chromatography (HPAE-PAD) and other enzymatic and chemical methods. In a preferred embodiment, fiber content is measured by HPAE-PAD. For example, a Dion x ion chromatograph, D x 500 equipped with an electrochemical detector and gradient pump is used, separated on a Dion x Carbopac PAl analysis column and guard column with solvent gradient transfer, and a 4-potential waveform Together with a gold electrode, diluted with water and analyzed through an Amicon Ultra-4 centrifugal filter prior to analysis.

  In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, the soluble corn fiber has a monosaccharide and disaccharide content of less than about 20%. For example, in certain embodiments, the soluble corn fiber has a monosaccharide and disaccharide content of less than about 15%, less than about 10%, less than about 5%, and even less than about 2%. In certain such embodiments, the soluble corn fiber has a monosaccharide and disaccharide content of about 0% or more, about 0.001% or more, about 0.01% or more, or even 0.1% or more.

  In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, the soluble corn fiber oligosaccharides have an average degree of polymerization of about 5 or more, about 7 or more, or about 9 or more. For example, in certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, the soluble corn fiber oligosaccharides have an average degree of polymerization of about 5 to about 20, about 7 to about 20, or about 9 to about 20. In other embodiments, the soluble corn fiber oligosaccharides have an average degree of polymerization of about 5 to about 15, about 7 to about 15, or about 9 to about 15. For example, in one embodiment of the methods and compositions described herein, the soluble corn fiber oligosaccharides have an average degree of polymerization of about 10.

  In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, the oligosaccharide portion of soluble corn fiber remains substantially undigested in the subject's stomach and small intestine upon ingestion.

Commercially available soluble corn fiber products include PROMITOR ^™ Soluble Corn Fiber 70 (minimum fiber content of about 70%, maximum monosaccharide and disaccharide content of about 20%), and PROMITOR ^™ Soluble Corn Fiber 85 (minimum fiber content). Fiber content of about 85%, maximum monosaccharide and disaccharide content of about 2%), which is available from Tate & Lyle Health & Nutrition Sciences, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, USA.

  US Patent Application Publication Nos. 2008/0292766, 2006/0210696, and 2008/0175977 further describe certain soluble corn fibers suitable for use in the methods and compositions described herein, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. Is incorporated herein by reference and attached as an attachment to this specification. In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, the soluble corn fiber is similar to that described in the aspects or embodiments of US Patent Application Publication Nos. 2008/0292766, 2006/0210696, or 2008/0175977.

  Of course, as can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, other fermentable soluble fibers can be used in performing the methods and methods for the compositions as described herein. In other specific embodiments, as described herein, the fermentable soluble fiber is optionally combined with soluble corn fiber, polydextrose, soluble fiber dextrin (ie, corn, tapioca, potato starch), arabinoxylan, Selected from arabinoxylan oligosaccharides, xylose, slow digestible (hard-digestible) carbohydrates and oligosaccharides and functional combinations thereof. While certain embodiments of the present invention are described with respect to soluble corn fiber, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other fermentable soluble fibers can be used in place of soluble corn fiber in certain embodiments of the present invention.

  In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions as described herein, fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, US Pat. No. 7,608,436 and Manufactured by the process described in 8,057,840. For example, in one embodiment, the process for producing a fermentable soluble fiber includes the use of an aqueous feed composition comprising at least one monosaccharide or linear saccharide oligomer and having a solids concentration of about 70% by weight or more. . The feed composition is heated at a temperature of about 40 ° C. or higher and contacted with at least one catalyst that accelerates the rate of glucosyl bond cleavage or formation for a time sufficient to induce formation of a non-linear saccharide oligomer. In one particular embodiment, the process comprises heating an aqueous feed composition comprising at least one monosaccharide or linear saccharide oligomer and having a solids concentration of about 70% by weight or more at a temperature of about 40 ° C. or more. And contacting the feed composition with at least one catalyst that accelerates the rate of cleavage or formation of glucosyl bonds for a time sufficient to induce formation of a non-linear saccharide oligomer, wherein the product composition The product is prepared to contain a higher concentration of non-linear saccharide oligomers than the linear saccharide oligomers; the resulting composition is based on dry solids based on non-linear saccharide oligomers having a degree of polymerization of at least 3. It is contained at a concentration of about 20% by mass or more. In certain such embodiments, the product composition is made to contain higher concentrations of non-linear saccharide oligomers than linear saccharide oligomers. In one embodiment of this step, the at least one catalyst is an enzyme that accelerates the rate of glucosyl bond cleavage or formation. In other embodiments of the process, the at least one catalyst is an acid. In some embodiments of the process, the acid and enzyme can be used sequentially, and the feed composition can be first treated with the enzyme and then treated with the acid, or vice versa. .

  In certain embodiments of the processes described with respect to US Pat. Nos. 7,608,436 and 8,057,840, the aqueous feed composition comprises at least one monosaccharide and at least one linear saccharide oligomer, each containing some. be able to. In many cases, monosaccharides and oligosaccharides will comprise about 70% by weight or more based on the dry solids of the feed composition. In order to maximize the yield of the desired oligomer, it is generally beneficial for the starting material to have as high a concentration of monosaccharides as possible. High solids concentrations tend to equilibrate from hydrolysis to condensation (reverse reaction), which produces higher molecular weight products. Thus, the water content of the starting material is preferably relatively low. For example, in certain embodiments, the feed composition comprises about 75% or more dry solids. ("Dry solids" may be abbreviated as "ds" in this application). In some cases, the feed composition comprises about 75% to about 90% by weight solids, which generally gives a viscous syrup or wet powder appearance at room temperature.

  Examples of suitable starting materials for processes such as those described in US Pat. Nos. 7,608,436 and 8,057,840 include syrups produced by hydrolysis of starch, such as dextrose green syrup (ie, dextrose monohydrate). Mother liquor recycle stream formed by physical crystallization), other dextrose syrups, corn syrups and maltodextrin solutions, but are not limited to these. If the feed composition comprises maltodextrin, this step optionally hydrolyzes maltodextrin to form a hydrolyzed saccharide solution, and the hydrolyzed saccharide solution comprises about 70% or more dry solids. Concentrating to form a feed composition. Concentration and contact of the feed with the catalyst may occur simultaneously, or the feed composition and catalyst may contact after concentration has occurred first.

  In certain embodiments of the process as described with respect to US Pat. Nos. 7,608,436 and 8,057,840, the feed composition is contacted with at least one catalyst for various periods of time. In some cases, the contact period will be about 5 hours or more. In some embodiments of the invention, the feed composition is contacted with at least one catalyst for about 15 hours to about 100 hours. In other embodiments, shorter contact times may be used at higher temperatures, and in some cases may even be less than 1 hour.

  In certain embodiments of the process as described with respect to US Pat. Nos. 7,608,436 and 8,057,840, enzymatic reverse reactions are used to produce non-linear oligosaccharides. The enzyme may, for example, accelerate the cleavage rate of alpha 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, or 1-6 glucosyl bonds to form dextrose residues. One suitable example is a glucoamylase enzyme composition, for example a commercially available enzyme composition designated as glucoamylase. It should be understood that such a composition may contain a certain amount of an enzyme that is not pure glucoamylase, and in effect is a glucoamylase that itself promotes the desired production of non-linear oligosaccharides. Do not assume that. Thus, the feed composition may be contacted with glucoamylase, or any other enzyme that acts on dextrose polymers. The amount of enzyme may suitably be from about 0.5% to about 2.5% by volume of the feed composition. In some embodiments of the process, the feed composition is maintained at about 55 ° C to about 75 ° C, or in some cases about 60 ° C to about 65 ° C, during contact with the enzyme. At this temperature, depending on the water content, the substance becomes a liquid or a mixture of liquid and solid. Optionally, the reaction mixture may be mixed or stirred to distribute the enzyme. The reaction mixture is maintained at the desired temperature for the time necessary to achieve the desired degree of reverse reaction of the non-linear oligomer. In some embodiments of the process, the feed composition is contacted with the enzyme for about 20 hours to about 100 hours before the enzyme is inactivated, or in some cases about 50 hours to about 100 hours. Inactivated after contact. Techniques for inactivating glucoamylase are well known in the art. As another example, instead of inactivating the enzyme, the enzyme may be separated by membrane filtration and then recycled.

  In certain embodiments of the process as described with respect to US Pat. Nos. 7,608,436 and 8,057,840, the resulting composition has a high concentration of non-linear oligosaccharides such as isomaltose. Such a product composition contains higher concentrations of non-linear saccharide oligomers than linear saccharide oligomers. In some cases, the concentration of the non-linear saccharide oligomer in the final composition is more than twice the concentration of the linear saccharide oligomer.

  Other embodiments of the process as described with respect to US Pat. Nos. 7,608,436 and 8,057,840 involve the reverse reaction of monosaccharide acids. The starting materials are similar to those described above for the enzyme reverse reaction in this step. Various acids such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or combinations thereof may be used. In some embodiments of the process, the acid is added to the feed composition in an amount sufficient to bring the pH of the feed composition to about 4 or less, or in some cases, the pH of the feed composition. Is added to the feed composition in an amount sufficient to provide from about 1.0 to about 2.5, or from about 1.5 to about 2.0. In some embodiments, the feed composition has a solids concentration of about 70% to about 90%, and the amount of acid added to the feed is about 0.05% to about 0.25% (w / w) acid solids and the feed composition is maintained at a temperature of about 70 ° C. to about 90 ° C. during contact with the acid. With the enzyme reverse reaction of the process, the reaction conditions are maintained for a time sufficient to produce the desired oligomer, which in some embodiments of the process is from about 4 hours to about 24 hours.

  In one particular embodiment of the process described with respect to US Pat. Nos. 7,608,436 and 8,057,840, the feed composition has a solids concentration of about 80% by weight or more, and the acid is the pH of the composition. The feed composition is added to the feed composition in an amount sufficient to reach about 1.8, and the feed composition is maintained at a temperature of about 80 ° C. or higher for about 4 hours to about 24 hours after contact with the acid.

  In another particular embodiment of the process described with respect to US Pat. Nos. 7,608,436 and 8,057,840, the feed composition has a solids concentration of about 90% to about 100% by weight, Is maintained at a temperature above about 149 ° C. (300 ° F.) for about 0.1 to about 15 minutes after contact with the acid. The acid used to treat the feed may be a combination of phosphoric acid and hydrochloric acid (similar concentrations as described above). In one particular embodiment, the contact of the feed composition with the acid consists of a continuous pipe / flow through the reactor.

  To date, the richest glycosidic linkage in starch is the alpha-1,4 linkage, which is the linkage most commonly cleaved during acid hydrolysis of starch. However, the acid-catalyzed reverse reaction (condensation) takes place between any two hydroxyl groups, and the probability of forming an alpha-1,4 linkage when a wide variety of combinations and shapes are available Is relatively small. The human digestive system contains an alpha amylase that readily digests the alpha-1,4 linkages of starch and corn syrup. Replacing these linkages with linkages that are not recognized by digestive enzymes allows the product to pass through the small intestine almost unchanged. It is considered that the saccharide distribution by acid treatment is somewhat different from the saccharide distribution by enzyme treatment. These acid catalyzed condensation products are less likely to be recognized and digested by enzymes than products produced enzymatically in the human intestine.

  The acid treatment proceeds differently from the enzyme treatment. While enzymes rapidly hydrolyze linear oligomers to gradually form non-linear oligomers, when using acids, linear oligomers decrease and non-linear oligomers increase at a similar rate. Dextrose is rapidly formed by enzymatic hydrolysis of the oligomer and is gradually ingested to form a non-linear condensation product, while when using acid, the dextrose concentration gradually increases.

  Optionally, in certain embodiments of the process described with respect to US Pat. Nos. 7,608,436 and 8,057,840, hydrogenation may be performed after the enzyme reverse reaction or acid reverse reaction. The hydrogenated product should have a lower caloric content than currently available hydrogenated starch hydrolysates. In one embodiment, hydrogenation can be used to decolorize the product composition without substantially changing dextrose equivalent (DE). In one form of this step, the enzyme and acid can be used sequentially in any order. For example, at least one catalyst used in the first treatment may be an enzyme and the product composition may subsequently be contacted with an acid that accelerates the rate of glucosyl bond cleavage or formation. Alternatively, the at least one catalyst used in the first treatment may be an acid and the product composition may subsequently be contacted with an enzyme that accelerates the rate of glucosyl bond cleavage or formation.

  The product composition produced by treatment with acid, enzyme or both has an increased concentration of non-linear saccharide oligomers based on dry solids. In some cases, the concentration of the non-linear saccharide oligomer having a degree of polymerization of 3 (DP3 +) or higher in the product composition is about 20% or higher, about 25% or higher, about 30% or higher, or about 30% or higher. It is 50 mass% or more. In certain such embodiments, the concentration of the non-linear saccharide oligomer having a degree of polymerization of 3 (DP3 +) or higher in the product composition is about 100% or less, or about 99% or less, or about 95, based on dry solids. % Or less, or about 90% by mass. In some embodiments, the concentration of the non-linear saccharide oligomer in the product composition is at least twice the concentration of the linear saccharide oligomer.

  In one particular embodiment of the process described with respect to US Pat. Nos. 7,608,436 and 8,057,840, the concentration of the non-linear saccharide oligomer in the product composition is about 90 mass based on dry solids. The concentration of isomaltose is about 70% by mass or more based on the dry solid content.

  The resulting composition will often contain some amount of residual monosaccharide (typically less than 50% by weight and sometimes even less) based on dry solids. Optionally, at least a portion of the residual monosaccharide (and other chemical species) may be separated from the oligomer (eg, by membrane filtration, chromatographic separation, or digestion via fermentation), and the monosaccharide stream is processed It may be recycled into the feed. In this way, the monosaccharide syrup can be converted into a high-value food additive.

  FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a process that can use the reverse reaction technique described above. The process may start with starch, for example vegetable starch. Conventional corn starch is one suitable example. The process should generally operate more efficiently when the starting starch has a relatively high purity. In one embodiment, the high-purity starch comprises less than 0.5% protein based on dry solids. Although some of the discussion below focuses on corn, it should be understood that the present invention is applicable to starch from other sources, particularly potato and wheat.

  One embodiment of the process described with respect to US Pat. Nos. 7,608,436 and 8,057,840 is schematically illustrated in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, starch 10 can have acid 12 added thereto, and then gelatinized 14 in a starch cooker where the starch granules are contacted with steam, such as a jet cooker. it can. In one form of this process, the starch slurry adjusted to a target pH of 3.5 by the addition of sulfuric acid is quickly mixed with steam in a jet cooker and 149 ° C. to 152 ° C. (300 ° F. to 300 ° F. in the tail line). 305 ° F) for 4 minutes. Gelatinized starch 16 is hydrolyzed 18 by exposure to acid at high temperatures during jet cooking. Hydrolysis reduces the molecular weight of the starch and increases the percentage of monosaccharides and oligosaccharides in the composition (as described above, the term “oligosaccharide” is used herein to refer to saccharides containing at least two saccharide units, eg, polymerized Degree (DP) is used to indicate sugars that are about 2 to 30). A neutralizing agent 20 such as sodium carbonate may be added to interrupt acid hydrolysis, after which the composition can be further depolymerized 24 by contacting it with hydrolase 22. Suitable enzymes include alpha amylases such as Termamyl, which are available from Novozymes. This enzymatic hydrolysis further increases the percentage of monosaccharides and oligosaccharides present in the composition. The overall result of hydrolysis by acid and enzyme treatment is to saccharify the starch. The saccharified composition can be isomerized to change the monosaccharide profile, for example to increase the concentration of fructose.

  The saccharified composition 26 can then be purified, for example, by chromatographic fractionation 28. In one embodiment applying a sequential simulated moving bed (SSMB) chromatography method, a solution of mixed sugars is pumped through a column filled with resin beads. Due to the chemical nature of the resin, some of the sugars will interact more strongly with the resin, and the flow through the resin will be delayed compared to sugars that interact more weakly with the resin. Such fractionation can produce a single stream 30 having a high content of monosaccharides such as dextrose and fructose. High fructose corn syrup is an example of such a stream. Fractionation not only has relatively high concentrations of oligosaccharides (eg, about 5% to about 15% oligosaccharides based on dry solids (dsb)), but also dextrose and A raffinate stream 32 (ie, a component that moves faster through the resin bed) containing a smaller concentration of a monosaccharide such as fructose is produced. Although the term “stream” is used in this application to describe a portion of a process, it should be understood that the process of the present invention is not limited to continuous operation. This step can also be performed in batch or semi-batch mode.

  The raffinate 32 may be further fractionated by membrane filtration 34, such as nanofiltration, optionally with diafiltration. For example, these filtration steps may be performed using a Desal DK spiral nanofiltration cartridge at a pressure of about 500 psi and a temperature of 40 ° C. to 60 ° C. The fractionation described in step 34 can also be accomplished by sequential simulated moving bed chromatography (SSMB). The membrane filtration produces a permeate 36 mainly containing monosaccharides (that is, a component that passes through the membrane) and a residue 38 mainly containing oligosaccharides (that is, a component that cannot pass through the membrane) (this application). As used herein, “primarily” means that the composition contains more of the listed ingredients than any other ingredients, based on dry solids). Permeate 36 may be combined with monomer stream 30 (eg, high fructose corn syrup). The permeate is a stream rich in monosaccharides and the remainder is a stream rich in oligosaccharides. That is, nanofiltration concentrates oligosaccharides in the remainder and concentrates monosaccharides in the permeate compared to nanofiltration feed.

  The remainder 38, which may be described as oligosaccharide syrup 40, is sufficiently high in content of slowly digestible oligosaccharides (eg, at least about 50% by weight dsb, or in some cases at least about 90%). The remainder can be dried or simply evaporated to a concentrated syrup that can be used as an ingredient in food. However, in many cases this is useful for further processing and purification of the composition. Such purification can include one or more of the following steps (FIG. 9 shows four such purification steps (42, 44, 46 and 48) as an alternative, but these steps: It should be understood that two or more of the can be used in the process).

  The oligomer syrup 40 may be treated with other fractionation 42, membrane filtration such as second nanofiltration to remove at least a portion of residual monosaccharides such as fructose and dextrose. Suitable nanofiltration conditions and equipment are the same as described above. Such nanofiltration produces a permeate that is a stream rich in second monosaccharides, which may be combined with the monomer stream 30. As another example, further fractionation 42 can be performed by chromatographic separation, such as simulated mixed bed chromatography.

  Syrup 41 can be isomerized 44 by contacting it with an enzyme such as dextrose rationalizing enzyme. This converts at least a portion of the residual dextrose present with fructose, which may be more valuable in certain situations.

  The syrup can be treated with an enzyme or acid to induce a reverse reaction or repolymerization 46 in which at least some of the monosaccharides still present are covalently bound to different monosaccharides or oligosaccharides, thereby The residual monomer content can be further reduced. Suitable enzymes for use in this step include glucosidases such as amylase, glucoamylase, torence glucosidase and pullulanase. Cellulase enzymes can produce reverse reaction products that are valuable for some applications.

  The syrup can be hydrogenated 48 to convert at least a portion of any residual monosaccharide to the corresponding alcohol (eg, converting dextrose to sorbitol). If hydrogenation is involved in the process, this is typically (but not necessarily) the last purification step.

  Thereafter, the purified oligomer syrup 49 produced by one or more of the purification steps can be decolorized 50. Decolorization can be performed by, for example, microfiltration after treatment with activated carbon. In a continuous flow system, the syrup stream can be pumped through a column filled with granular activated carbon to achieve decolorization. The decolorized oligomer syrup is then evaporated 52, for example in excess of about 70% dry solids (ds), and the oligosaccharides are high in content (eg, in excess of 90% by weight, in some cases A product containing a correspondingly low content of monosaccharides. If the product is not completely digestible by humans, it contains a plurality of sugars that are slowly digestible or incompletely digested. These sugars can include branched oligomers having a polymerization degree of 4 or more, isomaltose and panose.

  The process conditions can be modified to recover most of the maltose in the monomer rich stream (30, 36) or oligomer product stream feed. For example, nanofiltration membranes with slightly larger pores such as Desal DL operating at pressures below 500 psi can be used to increase the amount of maltose in a monomer rich stream.

  In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions as described herein, the fermentable soluble fiber is a slowly digestible saccharide oligomer composition suitable for use in foods. As used herein, the term “slowly digestible” means that one or more carbohydrates are not digested in the human stomach and small intestine at all or only to a limited extent. Both in vitro and in vivo tests can be performed to estimate the rate and extent of carbohydrate digestion in humans. The “Englyst Assay” is an in vitro enzyme test that can be used to estimate the amount of easily digestible, slow digestible carbohydrate components, or difficult digestible carbohydrate components (European clinical trials). Nutrition Journal (1992), Volume 46 (Appendix 2), pages S33-S50). Thus, any reference in this application to “slowly digestible” substance “about 50% by weight or more based on dry solids” is classified as slow digestible or resistant by the inlist assay. It means that the sum of the percentages of the corresponding substances reaches about 50% or more. The terms “oligosaccharide” and “saccharide oligomer” are used herein to denote a saccharide having at least two saccharide units, such as a saccharide having a degree of polymerization (“DP”) of about 2-30. For example, a disaccharide has a DP of 2.

  Gastrointestinal enzymes readily recognize and digest carbohydrates, where dextrose units are linked alpha (1 → 4) (“linear” linkage). Replacing these linkages with other linkages (eg, alpha (1 → 3), alpha (1 → 6) (“non-linear” linkage), or beta linkage) increases the ability of gastrointestinal enzymes to digest carbohydrates. Decrease. This is because the carbohydrates pass through the small intestine without much change. In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions as described herein, the fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, contains a minimal amount of residual monosaccharide (ie, less than 50% by weight, usually further based on dry solids). At low concentrations, eg, less than 40% by weight, less than 30% by weight). In some embodiments as described herein, about 50% or more by weight of the product composition, based on dry solids, is slowly digestible. A process such as that described with respect to US Pat. Nos. 7,608,436 and 8,057,840 may comprise membrane filtration, chromatographic fractionation of at least some of the residual monosaccharides (and optionally other chemical species), Alternatively, an additional step of removing from the product composition by digestion via fermentation can be included. The separated monosaccharides may be combined with other process streams, for example for the production of dextrose or corn syrup. Alternatively, the separated monosaccharide may be recycled into the feed composition.

  In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions as described herein, the fermentable soluble fiber comprises a major amount of linear saccharide oligomers and non-linear saccharide oligomers based on dry solids (eg, greater than about 50%, about Wherein the concentration of the non-linear saccharide oligomer is greater than the concentration of the linear saccharide oligomer, and the concentration of the non-linear saccharide oligomer having a degree of polymerization of 3 or more is the dry solid content. Is about 20% by mass or more. For example, in certain embodiments, the concentration of the non-linear saccharide oligomer in the composition is at least twice the concentration of the linear saccharide oligomer. In one embodiment, the concentration of the non-linear saccharide oligomer having a degree of polymerization of 3 or more is about 25% by mass or more based on the dry solid content. In an embodiment, the concentration of the non-linear saccharide oligomer having a degree of polymerization of 3 or more is about 30% by mass or more and thus 50% by mass or more based on the dry solid content. In some embodiments, the concentration of the non-linear saccharide oligomer is about 90% by weight or more based on the dry solid content, and the concentration of isomaltose is about 70% by weight or more based on the dry solid content.

  In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, is administered at a rate of about 3 g / day or greater. For example, in certain embodiments, the fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, is about 5 g / day or more, about 7 g / day or more, about 10 g / day or more, about 12 g / day or more, about 13 g / day or more, about 13 g / day or more. It is administered at a rate of 15 g / day, and thus about 20 g / day or more, and about 100 g / day or less, or 75 g / day or less. Specifically, the maximum clinically relevant gastrointestinal tolerance is 65 g / day when diffused over 12 hours (normal meal day) and / or 40 g / acute bolus day. Both of these are good doses with maximum tolerance. Here, in certain such embodiments, fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, is administered at a rate of about 65 g or less for 12 hours and / or about 40 g or less in a single bolus.

  For example, in certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, is administered at a rate ranging from about 3 g / day to about 100 g / day. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, the fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, ranges from about 10 g / day to about 100 g / day, or from about 12 g / day to about 100 g / day. Is administered at the rate of In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, the fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, is about 5 g / day to about 65 g / day, about 5 g / day to about 40 g / day, about 5 g. / Day to about 30 g / day, about 5 g / day to about 20 g / day, about 10 g / day to about 65 g / day, about 10 g / day to about 40 g / day, about 10 g / day to about 30 g / day, about 15 g / Day to about 65 g / day, about 15 g / day to about 40 g / day, about 15 g / day to about 30 g / day, about 5 g / day to about 15 g / day, about 7 g / day to about 15 g / day, about 9 g / Day to about 15 g / day, or about 10 g / day to about 15 g / day, about 12 g / day to about 20 g / day, about 13 g / day to about 20 g / day, about 14 g / day to about 20 g / day, about 15g / day to about 2 administered at a rate in the range of g / day, about 16 g / day to about 20 g / day, about 17 g / day to about 20 g / day, about 18 g / day to about 20 g / day, or about 19 g / day to about 20 g / day Is done. In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, the fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, is about 5 g / day, about 6 g / day, about 7 g / day, about 8 g / day, about 9 g / day. It is administered at a rate in the range of about 10 g / day. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, is administered at a rate ranging from about 11 g / day to about 20 g / day. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, the fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, is about 11 g / day, or about 12 g / day, or about 13 g / day, or about 14 g / day. Or about 15 g / day, or about 16 g / day, or about 17 g / day, or about 18 g / day, or about 19 g / day, or about 20 g / day.

  The administration can be divided into any number of doses for a given day. For example, in one embodiment of the methods and compositions described herein, a fermentable soluble fiber such as soluble corn fiber is administered once a day (eg, a single dose). In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, the fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, is administered multiple times per day, eg, twice a day or three times a day. (Eg, multiple doses, eg, twice a day or three times a day). When multiple doses or multiple doses are used, the aforementioned daily equivalents are well tolerated (ie, severe abdominal fullness, flatulence, stomach sounds, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and / or vomiting) In order to provide an acceptable amount per dose), it can be divided into doses or doses.

  In other aspects, the present disclosure provides a method of increasing mineral (eg, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and / or magnesium) absorption in a subject, wherein the method is such as soluble corn fiber Orally administering the fermentable soluble fiber to the subject. In certain such embodiments, the mineral whose absorption is increased is a mineral such as, for example, calcium and / or iron. In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions as described herein, minerals are absorbed as divalent cations. In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions as described herein, the mineral is calcium. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions as described herein, the mineral is calcium and / or magnesium. In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions as described herein, the mineral is calcium and / or iron. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions as described herein, the mineral is calcium, magnesium and / or iron. In certain embodiments, administration may differ from that described herein.

  In other embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method of increasing one or more colonic bacterial populations in a subject to increase mineral (eg, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and / or magnesium) absorption, Here, the method includes the step of orally administering to the subject a fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber. In certain embodiments, administration may differ from that described herein.

  In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, the absorption of calcium is increased by about 3% or more compared to an untreated subject. In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, calcium absorption is about 5% or more, about 6% or more, about 7% or more, about 8% or more, about 9% or more, compared to an untreated subject. It increases at about 10% or more, about 11% or more, about 12% or more, about 13% or more, about 14% or more, or about 15% or more. In other embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, calcium absorption is increased by about 20% or more, or about 25% or more compared to an untreated subject. In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, calcium absorption is increased by about 20% or more, about 25% or more, about 30% or more, or about 35% or more compared to an untreated subject. In certain such embodiments, calcium absorption increases by about 200% or less compared to an untreated subject. In other such embodiments, the absorption of calcium is increased by about 100% or less compared to an untreated subject. In other such embodiments, the absorption of calcium is increased by about 50% or less compared to an untreated subject. The time required for calcium absorption can be, for example, in the range of 24 hours to 48 hours, for example 36 hours or 48 hours.

  In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, the subject is a mammal. In one embodiment of the methods and compositions described herein, the subject is a human, eg, a non-adult human (eg, in the range of about 2 years to about 20 years, or in the range of about 13 years to about 19 years), Or an elderly human (eg, about 45 years old, about 50 years old, about 60 years old, about 70 years old, about 80 years old, and even about 90 years old, especially elderly women). Here, in certain embodiments, the methods and compositions described herein may be used in particular for subjects that are likely to benefit from increased mineral (eg, calcium) absorption.

  Since the effect of increasing one or more colonic bacterial populations and / or increasing calcium absorption is for both humans and animals, it may be applicable to food and animal feed. Representative non-human animals include horses, chickens, turkeys, cattle, cows, domestic animals such as pigs, sheep, goats, llamas and bisons, cats and dogs, rodents, rabbits, hamsters and Including birds.

  Administration may be over a long period of time, for example, about 1 week or more, about 2 weeks or more, about 3 weeks or more, about 4 weeks or more, about 7 weeks or more, or even about 52 weeks or more. In such long-term administration, one of ordinary skill in the art may have days to “miss” administration; the number of days missed is preferably less than about 10% of the total number of days during which administration occurs.

  Another embodiment of the present invention is an edible composition comprising about 2.5 g or more of fermentable soluble fiber such as soluble corn fiber. For example, certain embodiments of the edible composition as described herein include about 3 g or more, about 4 g or more, about 5 g or more, about 6 g or more, about 8 g or more of fermentable soluble fiber such as soluble corn fiber. , About 10 g or more, further about 20 g or more. In certain such embodiments, the edible composition comprises no more than 100 g, no more than about 50 g, or even no more than about 40 g of fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber. The edible composition can be provided, for example, as a food composition as described later. In other embodiments, the edible composition is provided as a nutritional supplement. Such edible compositions can be useful for performing the methods described herein.

  In certain such embodiments of the compositions as described herein, the serving size can be, for example, about 75 g or more, about 150 g or more, or even about 200 g or more. In certain embodiments, the serving size is about 1000 g or less, or even about 500 g or less. For example, in one embodiment, the serving volume ranges from about 75 mL to about 1000 mL. In some embodiments, each dose is packaged individually. In other embodiments, multiple doses are packaged together and provided with information regarding the dose and / or the amount of fermentable soluble fiber such as soluble corn fiber per dose as described herein. The

  Other embodiments of the invention include fermentable soluble fibers such as soluble corn fiber of about 2.5% or more, about 3% or more, about 5% or more, about 10% or more, about 20% or more, about 30%. In addition, the edible composition is contained in an amount of about 40% by mass or more. However, in certain such embodiments, the edible composition has a maximum amount of fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, i.e., about 75% or less, or even about 50% or less. The edible composition can be provided as a food composition as described below, for example. The edible composition can be provided, for example, in a single dose and / or an amount of soluble corn fiber per batch as described herein.

  Another embodiment of the present invention is an edible composition comprising one or more (eg, 2 or more, or 3 or more) bacterial populations, respectively, Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Aristipes, Bifidobacterium, In addition to the genus selected from the group consisting of Coccus, Osiribacter and Dialista, the bacteria shown to increase in population by soluble corn fiber administration in Table 5 and shown to be correlated with calcium absorption in Table 6. Derived from bacteria. One or more bacterial populations can act as, for example, probiotics. In certain embodiments, the edible composition described herein comprises a fermentable soluble fiber such as soluble corn fiber (eg, in an amount as described above). However, in other embodiments, the edible composition does not include fermentable soluble fiber. Such an embodiment is useful, for example, for adding to or co-administering with a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber such that the bacterial population of the edible composition is present in the colon simultaneously with the fermentable soluble fiber. Can be. Here, in certain embodiments, the subject benefits from the combination of the bacterial population and fermentable soluble fiber identified herein without administering a single composition comprising both the fermentable soluble fiber and the bacterial population. be able to. Similarly, products suitable to benefit from the combination of bacterial populations and fermentable soluble fibers identified herein can be formulated into those that do not contain both fermentable soluble fibers and bacterial populations.

  For example, in certain embodiments of the edible compositions described herein, the edible composition comprises one or more (eg, two or more, or three or more) bacterial populations, each of Parabacteroides, Butyricoccus, Osiribacter And from a genus selected from the group consisting of Dialista and any combination thereof (eg, each from a different genus). For example, one embodiment of the edible composition described herein includes a population of Parabacteroides. Other embodiments of the edible composition described herein include a population of Butyricoccus. Other embodiments of the edible compositions described herein include a population of Osiribacter. Other embodiments of the edible compositions described herein include a population of dialistas. For example, certain embodiments of the edible compositions described herein include: Parabacteroides and Butyricococcus; Parabacteroides and Osiribacter; Parabacteroides and Diarysta; Parabacteroides, butyricococcus and osiribacter; parabacteroides, butyricococcus and dialista; parabacteroides, osiribacter and dialista; Includes population.

  In other embodiments of the edible composition described herein, the edible composition comprises one or more (eg, two or more, or three or more) bacterial populations, each of which is Bacteroides, Butyricococcus, Osiribacter and Dialista As well as from a genus selected from the group consisting of any combination thereof (eg, each from a different genus). For example, one embodiment of the edible composition described herein includes a population of Bacteroides. Other embodiments of the edible composition described herein include a population of Butyricoccus. Other embodiments of the edible compositions described herein include a population of Osiribacter. Other embodiments of the edible compositions described herein include a population of dialistas. For example, certain embodiments of the edible compositions described herein include Bacteroides and Butyricococcus; Bacteroides and Osiribacter; Bacteroides and Diarysta; Butyricoccus and Osiribacter; Butyricoccus and Dialista; , Butyricococcus and osiribacter; bacteroides, butyricococcus and dialista; parabacteroides, osiribacter and dialista; butyrichococcus, osiribacter and dialista;

  In other embodiments of the edible compositions described herein, the edible composition comprises one or more (eg, two or more, or three or more) bacterial populations, each of Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Aristipes. Genus within the order of Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium, Clostridiares (eg, not Clostridium, Anaerofustis, Anaerococcus, Coprococcus, Peptostreptococcae, Sporacetigenium); and a genus within the family Luminococcaceae and From a genus selected from the group consisting of any combination of these (eg, each from a different genus). For example, one embodiment of the edible composition described herein includes a population of Parabacteroides. Other embodiments of the edible compositions described herein include a population of Bifidobacterium. Other embodiments of the edible composition described herein comprise a population of Aristipes. Other embodiments of the edible compositions described herein include a population of Anaerococcus. Other embodiments of the edible compositions described herein include a population of catenibacterium. Other embodiments of the edible compositions described herein include a population of luminococcasae. Other embodiments of the edible compositions described herein include a Clostrigieres population. For example, certain embodiments of the edible compositions described herein include: Parabacteroides and Bifidobacteria; Parabacteroides and Aristipes; Parabacteroides and Anaerococcus; Parabacteroides and Catenibacterium; Parabacteroides and Luminococcaceae; Bifidobacterium and Anaerococcus; Bifidobacterium and Catenibacterium; Bifidobacterium and Luminococcaceae; Bifidobacterium and Clostridiares; Aristipes and Anaeros Coccus; Aristipes and Catenibacterium; Aristipes and Luminococcasse; Anaerococcus and Catenibacterium; Anaerococcus and Lumiococcase; Anaerococcus and Clostridiares; Catenibacterium and Lumiococcasae; Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium and Catenibacterium; Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium and Clostridiares; Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium and Luminococcae; Aristipes and Catenibacterium; Parabacteroides, Aristipes Parabacteroides, Aristoceps and Luminococcassee; Parabacteroides, Anaerococcus and Catenibacterium; Parabacteroides, Anaerococcus and Clostrigiales; Aarles; Parabacteroides, Catenibacterium and Luminococcae; Parabacteroides, Clostridiares and Luminococcae; Bifidobacterium, Aristipes and Anaerococcus; And Clostridiares; Bifidobacterium, Aristipes and Bifidobacterium, Anaerococcus and Clostridiales; Bifidobacterium, Anaerococcus and Clostridiales; Bifidobacterium, Anaerococcus and Clostridiales; Bifidobacterium, Clostridiares and Luminococcaceae; Aristipes, Anaerococcus and Catenibacterium; Aristipes, Anaerococcus and Clostridiares; Pes, Catenibacterium and Clostridiares; Aristipes, Catenibacterium and Lumi Alistipes, Clostridiares and Luminococcae; Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium and Clostridiares; Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium and Luminococcae; Anaerococcus, Clostridiares and Luminococcae; Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Aristipes and Anaerococcus; Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Aristipes and Catenibacterium; Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Aristipes and Clostridiales; Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium Umm, Aristipes and Luminococcasse; Parabacteroides, Bifidobacte Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Anaerococcus and Clostridiares; Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Anaerococcus and Luminococcaceae; Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Catenibacterium and Cloth Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Catenibacterium and Luminococcasse; Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Clostridiares and Luminococcae; Parabacteroides, Aristipepes, Anaerococcus and Catenibacterium; Parabacteroides, Aristipes Anaerococcus and Clostrigiares; Parabacteroides, Aristipes, Anaerococca Parabacteroides, Aristipes, Catenibacterium and Clostridiares; Parabacteroides, Aristipes, Catenibacterium and Luminococcae; Parabacteroides, anaerococcus, catenibacterium and luminococcase; parabacteroides, anaerococcus, clostrigiales and luminococcuse; , Anaerococcus and Catenibacterium; Bifido C., Aristipes, Anaerococcus and Clostridiares; Bifidobacterium, Aristipes, Anaerococcus and Luminococcae; Bifidobacterium, Aristipepes, Catenibacterium and Clostridiares; Bifidobacterium, Aristipes, Cateni Bifidobacterium, Aristipes, Clostridiares and Luminococcae; Bifidobacterium, Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium and Clostridiares; Bifidobacterium, Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium and Luminococcae; Fidobacterium, Anaerococcus, Clostridiares and Luminococcassee; Bifidobacterium, catenaceae Aristipes, Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium and Clostridiares; Aristipes, Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium and Luminococcassee; Including populations of bacteria, Clostridiares and luminococci; or Anaerococcus, catenibacterium, Clostridiares and luminococciae. Of course, one skilled in the art can include any combination of 5, 6 or 7 colonic bacterial populations in the edible composition described herein, each of which is Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Aristipes It is understood that it is derived from a different genus selected from the group consisting of: genus, Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium, Clostridiares; and genus within the family Luminococcaceae.

  In other embodiments of the edible compositions described herein, the edible composition comprises one or more (eg, two or more, or three or more) bacterial populations, each of which is a Parabacteroides, Dialista, Akermancia, and Lacnospiraceae family. From a genus selected from the group consisting of (for example, not lacnospira) (eg, each from a different genus). For example, one embodiment of the edible composition described herein includes a population of Parabacteroides. Other embodiments of the edible compositions described herein include a population of dialistas. Other embodiments of the edible compositions described herein comprise an Akermancia population. Other embodiments of the edible composition described herein include a population of Lachnospiraceae. For example, certain embodiments of the edible compositions described herein include: Parabacteroides and Dialista; Parabacteroides and Akermancia; Parabacteroides and Lacnospirase; Dialista and Akermancia; Dialista and Lacnospirasee; Bacteroides, Dialista, and Lacnospirase; Parabacteroides, Akermancia, and Lacnospirase; Dialista, Akermancia, and Lacnospirace;

  Of course, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, an edible composition comprising a particular combination of bacterial populations as described herein can further include those described herein or other bacterial populations. For example, the composition can further comprise one or more bacterial populations selected from the genera Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.

The edible composition can be provided, for example, as a food composition as described later. In other embodiments, the edible composition is provided as a nutritional supplement. In yet other embodiments, the edible composition is provided as an ingredient that is mixed with the food composition, for example, during the process or cooking, or when serving or ingesting. The edible composition comprises, for example, a fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, concentration, serving size and / or fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber per serving as described herein. Can be provided. The amount of bacterial population added to the composition can be adjusted by those skilled in the art to meet the desired needs. In general, each bacterial population can be present in an amount of about 1 × 10 ^{3 to} about 1 × 10 ¹⁰ CFU (colony forming units). In certain embodiments, each bacterial population is about 1 × 10 ^{5 to} about 1 × 10 ¹⁰ CFU, or about 1 × 10 ^{6 to} about 1 × 10 ¹⁰ CFU, or about 1 × 10 ^{7 to} about 1 × 10 ¹⁰ CFU, or about 1 × 10 ^{8 to} about 1 × 10 ¹⁰ CFU, or about 1 × 10 ^{3 to} about 1 × 10 ⁸ CFU, or about 1 × 10 ^{4 to} about 1 × 10 ⁸ CFU, or about 1 × 10 ^{5 to} about 1 × 10 ⁸ CFU, or about 1 × 10 ^{6 to} about 1 × 10 ⁸ CFU, or about 1 × 10 ^{5 to} about 1 × 10 ⁷ CFU, or about 1 × 10 ⁴ CFU, or about 1 × 10 ⁵ CFU, or about It is present in an amount of 1 × 10 ⁶ CFU, or about 1 × 10 ⁷ CFU, or about 1 × 10 ⁸ CFU, or about 1 × 10 ⁹ CFU, or about 1 × 10 ¹⁰ CFU.

  Another embodiment of the present invention is an edible composition as described above further comprising one or more mineral species. Each mineral species can be, for example, a divalent mineral species or a species selected from calcium species, magnesium species, copper species, potassium species, zinc species and iron species. For example, in one embodiment, the edible composition includes calcium. In other embodiments, the edible composition comprises calcium and / or magnesium. In other embodiments, the edible composition comprises calcium, magnesium, and / or iron. The mineral species can be provided as a salt, halide salt or bicarbonate, such as, for example, a carbonate salt. For example, calcium can be provided, for example, as calcium carbonate or calcium gluconate. Minerals (eg, calcium) are for example about 50 mg or more per dose or dose, about 100 mg or more per dose or dose, about 250 mg or more per dose or dose, about 500 mg or more per dose or dose, and thus dose or dose Can be provided in an amount of about 1000 mg or more. In certain such embodiments, calcium is included at less than about 2000 mg per dose or dose, and even less than about 1000 mg per dose or dose. The edible composition can be provided, for example, as a food composition as described later. In other embodiments, the edible composition is provided as a nutritional supplement. The edible composition comprises, for example, a fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber, concentration, serving size and / or fermentable soluble fiber, such as soluble corn fiber per serving as described herein. Can be provided.

  In other embodiments, the compositions of the present disclosure do not include mineral species as described above.

  Another embodiment of the invention is an edible composition as described above further comprising one or more additional prebiotics. Examples of prebiotics include, but are not limited to, inulin, lactulose, fructooligosaccharides, manno-oligosaccharides, larch arabinogalactans, xylooligosaccharides, polydextrose and tagatose. In certain embodiments, the present disclosure provides an edible composition as described above, wherein the prebiotic ranges from 0.025 g to 10 g. In some embodiments, the prebiotic is about 0.1 to about 10 g, or about 1 to about 10 g, or about 0.1 to about 5 g, or about 1 to about 5 g, or about 5 to about 10 g, or about 5 To about 8 g, or about 2 to about 8 g, or about 2 to about 5 g, or about 2 to about 8 g, or about 0.05 g, or about 0.1 g, or about 1 g, or about 2 g, or about 5 g, or Present in an amount of about 8 g, or about 10 g.

  In one embodiment, the composition of the present disclosure does not include one or more additional prebiotics as described above. For example, in one embodiment, the composition of the present disclosure is one of prebiotics selected from the group consisting of inulin, lactulose, fructooligosaccharides, manno-oligosaccharides, larch arabinogalactan, xylooligosaccharides, polydextrose and tagatose. Does not contain more than one. In other embodiments, the compositions of the present disclosure do not include inulin. In still other embodiments, the compositions of the present disclosure do not include pullulan.

  Optionally, the edible composition or food composition can also include additional nutritive or non-nutritive saccharides and / or polysaccharides. In one embodiment, the edible composition comprises sorbitol, pullulan, or a combination thereof. Sorbitol delivers about 60% of the sugar sweetness to food, but has a significantly reduced level of caloric content (2.6 kcal / g vs. 4.0 kcal / g, Livesay) and negligible glycemic response. Pullulan gum is a slowly digestible carbohydrate that produces a relative glycemic response of about 50% in humans compared to easily digestible carbohydrates, but can transmit a caloric content similar to sugar to food.

  In one embodiment, the food product comprises about 50% to about 99% fermentable soluble fiber such as soluble corn fiber, 0% to 50% fructose, 0% to 33% pullulan, and 0% to 33% sorbitol. Included, provided that at least one concentration of fructose, pullulan or sorbitol is 1% or more (all these percentages are by weight). In other embodiments, the food product comprises about 60% to about 80% fermentable soluble fiber such as soluble corn fiber, 1% to 20% fructose, 0% to 20% pullulan, and 0% to 20% sorbitol. Including. In yet other embodiments, the food product comprises about 65% to about 75% fermentable soluble fiber such as soluble corn fiber, 5% to 15% fructose, 5% to 15% pullulan, and 5% to 15% sorbitol. including. In embodiments that include a high intensity sweetener, the concentration of the component may be from about 0.001% to 0.5%.

  The edible composition or food composition may optionally contain resistant starch or other fiber sources.

  As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the compositions described herein can be used to practice the methods described elsewhere in this application.

  The terms “edible” and “edible composition” as used herein refer to various ingredients that can be ingested by humans, such as foods, drinks, and medical and nutritional supplements such as syrups, powders, capsules or tablets. Used in a broad sense to include, the terms “food” and “food composition” are used more narrowly to mean food and drink and their ingredients. Suitable food compositions include baked foods, breakfast cereals, dairy products, bean products, confectionery products, jams and jelly, drinks (powdered and / or liquid), shakes, fillings, yogurts (dairy yogurts and non-dairy yogurts) , Kefir, extruded and sheet snacks, gelatin desserts, snack bars, meal substitutes and energy bars, cheese and cheese sauce (dairy and non-dairy cheeses), edible and water soluble films, soups, syrups, tabletop sweetness Food, nutritional supplements, sauces, dressings, creamers, icing, ice cream, frosting, glazes, pet food, tortillas, meats and fish, dried fruits, infant foods, and doughs and clothes. Can be in any form.

  In order to produce a food product suitable for use as a flavor enhancer in a food composition, it is often also preferred to include natural and artificial flavors. Suitable examples of such perfumes include apples, citrus, grapes, oranges, cherries, lemons, limes, vanilla, peaches, peanut butter, pineapple, sarcophagus, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, jasmine, lavender, mint, strawberries, Includes banana, mango, passion fruit, dragon fruit, kiwi, chocolate, maple, lamb, butter and combinations thereof.

  In certain embodiments, the edible composition is in the form of an agglomerated powder, such as those used to make powdered drinks and nutritional supplements, for example.

  In order to produce a food product suitable for use as a sweetener composition in a food product, it will often be preferable to include a non-nutritive high intensity sweetener. Suitable examples of such non-nutritive high-intensity sweeteners include, but are not limited to, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, rahan fruit, stevia and combinations thereof.

  One skilled in the art will appreciate that fermentable soluble fiber such as soluble corn fiber can be provided in any of several different physical forms such as powder, agglomerated powder, syrup or concentrated syrup solids. In one embodiment, the soluble fiber is in particulate form. The microparticles can be fixed together by a binder, for example a binder composition comprising a major amount of maltodextrin. Aggregation of microparticles can have advantages in terms of dissolution and dispersion rates. This is important for applications where faster dissolution of mixing and lower shear rates are important, such as table sugar substitutes, table fiber supplements, and on-the-go powder powder mix products. Can be useful in such applications.

  Additional embodiments suitable for use in edible compositions as described herein are described in US Patent Application Publication Nos. 2008/0292766, 2006/0210696, and 2008/0175977, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. It is further described and attached as an attachment to this specification. In certain embodiments of the methods and compositions described herein, the edible composition is in a form as described in the aspects or embodiments of US Patent Application Publication Nos. 2008/0292766, 2006/0210696, or 2008/0175977, and Use the additional ingredients described.

  Certain aspects of the invention are further described with respect to the experimental studies described below.

Example 1
Object and method
Subjects 15 boys 13 to 15 years old and 9 girls 12 to 14 years old participated in these metabolic studies. Screening questionnaires were used to confirm eligibility based on brief medical history, age of maturity, physical activity, and habitual dietary intake as assessed by 6-day dietary records. Exclusion categories include: abnormal liver or kidney function, malabsorption disorder, anemia, smoking, history of drugs that affect calcium metabolism (steroids, thiazide diuretics), weight other than 5 to 95 BMI percentage by age, malaise Includes regular intake of drugs, non-prescription drugs or any type of contraceptive, and pregnancy. Subjects were not allowed to take nutritional supplements while participating in these studies and were required to discontinue use before coming to camp.

Study Design Designed to have a summer camp environment, this study consisted of two 3-week balance studies separated by a 7-day drug holiday. This experiment used a double-blind crossover design in which participants received two treatments of 12 g soluble corn fiber or placebo in random order.

Dietary diets are provided throughout the two camp periods, including foods typically taken by adolescents such as spaghetti, hamburgers, sandwiches and potato chips. Subjects were assigned to one of five energy levels (1750, 2100, 2400, 2700, and 3000 kcal) based on estimated energy requirements calculated using the Harris-Benedict equation. The diet was designed to maintain weight and contain a certain level of macronutrients. The conditioned diet served as a 4-day cycle menu consisting of 3 meals daily and 2 snacks. The diet contains on average 14% protein, 33% fat, 53% carbohydrate, vitamin D200IU, 1100 mg phosphorus, 2300 mg sodium and 600 mg calcium. 15 g of fiber was included in the basic diet and the intervention added an additional 0 or 12 g of SCF. This provided a total dietary fiber content of 15 g and 27 g for control and SCF treatment, respectively. The SCF was provided as a WELCH'S® fruit snack and was divided into two 0g or 6g doses provided for lunch and dinner. SCF provided by Tate & Lyle Health & Nutrition Sciences (Hoffman Estates, Illinois, USA) has an approximate mass-average degree of polymerization of 10, α-1,4, α-1,6, α- Contains more than 70% soluble dietary fiber with 1,3 and α-1,2 bonds.

Anthropometrics and anthropometric measurements , including bone measurement mass, sitting height, width of both greater trochanters, waist circumference and hip circumference, were performed during the first camp period. Height was measured using a wall-mounted studio meter at the beginning of the first period, and body weight was monitored every morning using an electronic digital scale to ensure that body weight remained stable throughout the period. Bone mineral density (BMC) and bone density (BMD) were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (GE Lunar, Madison, Wis., USA) during one balance period. Bone measurements were taken on the whole body, spine, forearm and both hips.

Hormone and biochemical markers of bone metabolism Fasting baseline blood was taken on the first day of the camp to confirm general blood chemistry, demonstrating the clinical profile and health of the participants. A second fasting sample was taken at the end of the camp to measure bone kinetic biochemical markers and hormones related to calcium and vitamin D metabolism.

Sample Collection and Analysis All urine and fecal samples were collected from day 1 to day 21 of each balance period and pooled as a 24-hour collection. Dietary, fecal and urine samples were measured for calcium content using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (Optima 4300 DV, Perkin Elmer Instrument) as described above. All stool samples were frozen and then processed to obtain calcium. Urine was stored refrigerated and subsequently analyzed for total calcium content as well.

A conformity- trained counselor worked 24 hours a day, supervising participants during meals and sample collection. Food that was not consumed during the meal was collected and recorded. The urine collection adaptability was evaluated by measuring creatinine excreted in urine by enzymatic colorimetric analysis (COBAS Integra, Roche Diagnostics). The excretion collection adaptability was evaluated by collecting polyethylene glycol (PEG) in the excrement. Each participant was provided with 3 g polyethylene glycol (PEG) (E3350; Dow Chemical Co., Midlend, Michigan, USA) divided into 1 g doses for breakfast, lunch and dinner. PEG recovery was measured by turbidimetric 24-hour excrement collection and used as a reference to exclude subject data if the degree of adaptation was poor.

The presence of gastric sounds, flatulence, bloating and abdominal pain in subjects with gastrointestinal symptoms was assessed daily using a short questionnaire. During the second camp period, 18 days, the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms was assessed daily by self-report using a scale of 1-10 (0 is none, 10 is very severe).

Fractional Calcium Absorption Test During the last week of each period, subjects participated in the calcium absorption test after an overnight diet. On the morning of the test, a phlebotomist inserted a catheter and collected a 10 ml baseline venous sample. Immediately after blood collection, participants had breakfast consisting of English muffins, scrambled eggs, butter and jam. The meal contained 150 mg calcium (Ca) from 2% milk and 15 mg ⁴⁴ Ca, a stable non-radioactive isotope. Oral isotopes were administered as a liquid (CaCl ₂ ) added to milk and allowed to equilibrate overnight. After breakfast, participants were not allowed to eat any food, but were allowed free access to deionized water. Furthermore, the second stable isotope ⁴³ Ca (3.5 mg) was intravenously administered as calcium chloride 1 hour after breakfast and oral isotope intake. After the last blood collection 3 hours after intravenous administration, the catheter was removed and the subject was served for lunch.

Absorption and residence calculations Two 24-hour urine pools were used to measure changes in fractional calcium absorption 48 hours after administration of calcium isotopes. After absorption test, urine samples collected at 2 days 24 hours pool (0-24 hours and 24-48 hours) is inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry of the high resolution (ICP-MS, Finnegan Element2, Thermo Scientific) by ⁴⁴ Analysis was performed for Ca and ⁴³ Ca enrichment. The absorption of calcium (Equation 1) was calculated using the enriched value, and the Δ surplus for ⁴⁴ Ca and the Δ surplus for ⁴³ Ca divided by the baseline, 0 hours-24 hours and 24 hours-48 from baseline. Calculated as the difference in time sample. These surplus values were then expressed as a ratio of ⁴⁴ Ca / ⁴³ Ca multiplied by the amount of intravenous dose (mg) divided by the oral dose (mg) based on their natural abundance ratio.

  Using balance data, calcium retention (Equation 2) was calculated by subtracting 24-hour calcium excretion in urine and excreta from 24-hour dietary calcium intake. The first 7 days of each 3-week study were considered as an equilibration period during which participants would adapt to calcium intake and fiber treatment, while the remaining 2 weeks served as the experimental period. The balance was calculated on the basis of 14 days in the experimental part as much as possible, as long as the calculation was started and ended on the day of excrement sample collection. The period between stools was divided by the appropriate number of days. Daily urinary calcium excretion values used in balance calculations were corrected for changes during collection and incomplete collection by adjusting 24-hour urine calcium to daily creatinine excretion (Equation 3). Calcium retention was calculated using both uncorrected and corrected values for urinary calcium excretion. Apparent calcium absorption (Equation 4) was confirmed as the difference between calcium intake and excretion calcium excretion, while net (net) calcium absorption efficiency (Equation 5) divided by intake- Calculated as excreta discharge.

Statistical analysis Statistical analysis was performed using SAS (version 9.2; SAS Institute, Kerry, NC, USA). Female and male baseline characteristics were compared using a t-test. Wilcoxon's rank-sum test was used to assess differences in nonparametric gastrointestinal symptoms. Using Pearson's correlation, changes in fractional Ca absorption (absorption for SCF-absorption for control), calcium balance and vitamin D status, baseline anthropometry in 24-hour to 48-hour urine And the potential relevance between differences in bone density and strength measurements. A general linear model was used to evaluate the effect of SCF on fractional calcium absorption. The model describes the crossover design by nesting ids in the array as random effect variables, processing phases (first 3 weeks camp period versus second 3 weeks camp period) and array Adjusted against. Data were analyzed individually for each period (0-24 hours and 24-48 hours). A similar analysis was performed on calcium balance. Using published means and standard deviations for fractional calcium absorption reported in adolescents, 24 sample sizes provided sufficient verification power (80%) to show a 5.9% difference in calcium absorption. This assumes an alpha error of 0.05 and a standard deviation of 2.9 ± 9.6%. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant for all statistical tests.

Results A total of 24 subjects (9 girls and 15 boys) participated in the study. Three subjects did not participate in fractional calcium absorption studies in two periods. Therefore, fractional calcium absorption analysis was performed on 21 subjects. All other analyzes include all available data values. The participants evaluated in this study were racially diverse, but 11 were Asian, 6 were Hispanic, 1 was black, and 6 were multiracial teens (other races). Met. Subject characteristics including age, anthropometry, physical characteristics and bone measurements are provided in Table 1, which presents the mean and standard deviation individually for girls and boys. Girls and boys had similar physical characteristics, and in this cohort, lean body mass (the girl had a lower value than the boy, P = 0.009) and body fat percentage (the girl had a higher value than the boy) There was a statistically significant difference only at P = 0.01). The average habitual intake of calcium and dietary fiber was 768 ± 403 mg / d and 12 ± 4 g / d, respectively.

No significant differences in the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms including gastrointestinal bloating, flatulence, abdominal cramps and gastric sounds were observed between SCF treatment and controls during the 18 day observation period (Table 2).

Fraction calcium absorption, calcium balance and bone biomarker Fraction calcium absorption is an analysis of isotopes excreted in urine collected between 0-24 hours and 24-48 hours after isotope administration (FIG. 1). Compared to the control, the absorption of average fractional calcium was not different in the first 24 hours, but was very high in the 24 to 48 hours after treatment with SCF (each 0.595 ± 0.142 vs. 0.0. 664 ± 0.129; P = 0.02). The difference in absorption of the average fractional calcium of 0.069 represented an increase of 11.6% in absorption upon SCF treatment. A general linear model (FIG. 2) showed a significant effect of treatment on absorption of fractional calcium from 24 hours to 48 hours (P = 0.02), but 0 hours to 24 hours ( P = 0.09) was not confirmed. Treatment did not show significant effects on net calcium absorption, net absorption efficiency, excreta calcium excretion or calcium retention (Table 3). Neither urine nor excretion calcium excretion correlated with fractional calcium absorption. Bone metabolic marker concentrations are reported in Table 4. No difference in serum alkaline phosphatase, phosphorus, calcium, parathyroid hormone, leptin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF) -1, IGF-binding protein-3, sclerostin, and urinary n-telopeptide cross-linking, calcium and phosphorus This was due to SCF intake.

Vitamin D status and calcium absorption After SCF and control treatment, the average vitamin D status was 65.2 ± 18.8 nM and 59.1 ± 15.9 nM, respectively, which was not statistically significantly different . No statistically significant association was observed between the absorption of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and fractional calcium (24-48 hours) or net absorption efficiency difference.

Predictors of the effect of SCF on calcium absorption The difference in fractional calcium absorption between SCF and control treatments during 24-hour to 48-hour urine collection is the height (r = 0.112, P = 0.63) Body surface area (r = 0.012, P = 0.96), body weight (r = −0.022, P = 0.92), habitual dietary fiber (r = 0.150, P = 0.54) ) And calcium (r = 0.012, P = 0.96) intake, Tanner stage (r = −0.131, P = 0.57) or BMI (r = −0.074, P = 0.75).

Example 2
Excrement treatment and the composition and structure of the microbial community in the DNA extraction excrement were confirmed with samples collected at the beginning and end of each period for each subject in Example 1. After the frozen excrement sample was weighed and thawed at 4 ° C., sterilized double distilled water (twice the mass of the excrement sample) was added, and the sample was homogenized with a stomacher. The excrement slurry was stored at −20 ° C. until DNA was extracted. DNA was extracted from 50-100 mg of fecal material using the FastDNA® SPIN kit for Soil (MP Biochemicals, Irvine, Calif., USA). DNA quality was checked using a 0.7% agarose gel and a Nanodrop 1000 spectrophotometer (Thermo Scientific, Wilmington, Del., USA) followed by quantification using a Nanodrop 3300 fluorometer (Thermo Scientific).

Microbial community composition using pyrosequencing The phylogenetic diversity of the bacterial community was determined using the 454FLX titanium chemistry and the Roche genome sequencer (454 Life Sciences-Roche, Branford, Conn., USA) and the V3 to V5 regions of the 16S rRNA gene. The 16S rRNA gene sequence obtained using the primers to be amplified was used for confirmation. Multiple samples were advanced and differentiated using a 10-bp tagged forward primer. Initial PCR from the excrement sample extract was performed using high fidelity Phusion DNA Polymerase (NEB), and the amplicon was gel purified (QIAEX II Gel Extraction Kit, Qiagen). Purified amplicons were stained using a PicoGreen DNA analysis kit and qPCR at the Purdue Genomics facility, then quantified by fluorescence analysis, and equimolar amounts were used for the 454FLX titanium chemical sequence.

Statistical analysis Pyrosequencing analysis interpretation was first pre-treated with software to remove primer tags and remove low quality sequences. Sequence quality was considered low if the length was less than 400 bp or if there was a mismatch or ambiguity in the forward primer sequence. Sequencing is done using the QIIME pipeline that includes software from multiple sources allowing multiple different beta and alpha diversity measurements, as well as operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and taxonomic assignments. Analysis was carried out. The chimeric sequence was removed using a chimeric slayer. OTU assignment was performed using the uclust method and the farthest neighbor clustering with a 97% sequence similarity threshold. Representative OTU sequences were obtained after sequence alignment using the PyNast and Greengenes core sets. Classification assignments were made using an RDP classifier with 80% confidence intervals. Dilution analysis was used to obtain an estimate of community coverage. Alpha biodiversity estimates (eg, Shannon and Chao1 indices) are calculated to compare subjects, but using PCR to target the 16S rRNA gene, the results may be biased, Differences in sequence copies per genome will affect relative numbers. Comparison of community composition was performed using a “Fast UniFrac” analysis of both OTU and phylogenetic data sets.

Pearson correlation analysis was used to confirm the association between the difference in fractional calcium absorption between treatments (24-48 hours) and the difference in the presence of bacterial genus after each treatment. Bacteria used for these correlations had bacteria with a genus average of 0.001 (= 0.1%) or more, or a proportion of taxon with significant difference in termination samples based on t-test Bacteria, including the following bacterial taxa:
Bifidobacterium, other Coriobacteriaceae, Bacteroides, Barnesiella, Butyricimonas, Parabacteroides, Prevotella, Aristipes, Other Rikenella ceraceae, Rikenella teralacae, (Lactobacillusae), Streptococcus, Clostridium, Eubacterium, Mogibacterium, Brautia, Anaerostipes, Coprococcus, Dorea, other Lactobacillus R Ahres Other peptostreptococcae, sporacetigenium, acetivibrio, butyricococcus, faecalibacterium, oscilbacter, other luminococcase, luminococcus null, luminococcus null (Subdoligranumum), Dialista, other Clostridia, Catenibacterium, Coprobacillus, Other Elysipetrrichaceae, Turicifacter et al., Turicifacter et al. , Escherichia / Shigera (Es herichia / Shigella), Pseudomonas, Actinomyces (Actinomyces), other streptavidin Cocca See (Streptococcaceae), Ana erotic Hus Sevilla and Ana erotic Lactococcus (Anaerococcus).

result
Bacterial community composition changes A total of 1,793,821 sequences were obtained using the 454-titanium pyrosequence (Roche Applied Science, Branford, Conn., USA) with an average of 19498 sequences per sample (± 7126) The range was from 8211 to 41212 sequences per sample. There was no significant difference in the number of sequences obtained for each subject when compared by treatment (P> 0.05) or collection (baseline vs. end sample) (P> 0.05) It was. 10 gates represented by the microbial community of 23 subjects, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Fusobacterium, TM7, Verrucomicrobia, There were Spirochetes and Synergists. However, in all samples, over 99% of the sequences are derived from 4 gates; Fermicutes is the most dominant gate with an average of 89.4%, followed by Bacteroidetes (5.1%), Actino There were bacteria (4.9%) and proteobacteria (0.5%).

  At the portal level, regardless of whether SCF was included in the clinical diet, the average relative proportion of Bacteroidetes increased significantly and Fermicutes decreased at the end of each period. The target communities for the SCF and control treatment groups were significantly different at the family level (Figure 3). After SCF diet, there is a higher proportion of Porphyromonadaceae (P = 0.02) and other Clostridiares (P = 0.000), Peptostreptococcae (P = 0.04) Was present at a lower rate. At the start of the two treatments, there was a significant difference in the proportion of partner populations within the family Corynebacteriaceae (P = 0.02). At the lowest level of resolution for these sequences, there were 9 genera and 4 “other” groups with average proportions that were significantly different (P <0.1) after SCF treatment versus control treatment. (Table 5). After SCF diet, there was a significant increase in Parabacteroides (P <0.003), other Clostridiares (P = 0.04) and other luminococciae (P <0.03), but a significant decrease Were observed in Enterococcus (P <0.03), Anaerofustis (P <0.05), Coprococcus (P <0.03), and other peptostreptococcae (P <0.002). There was also an increase in Bifidobacterium, Aristipes, Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium and other Clostridia, but the increase was not significant. Similarly, reductions in Rotia, other Streptococcus cerevisiae, Clostridium, Sporacetigenium, Turicibacterium and other TM7 genera incertae sedis occurred with SCF ingestion, but communities including CON The difference in percentage was not significant.

  Rapid UniFrac with jackknife analysis showed that there was no difference in dietary community structure despite processing data using different classification categories (eg, OTU vs. phylogeny). OTU-weighted Unifrac principal coordinate analysis showed some separation between the samples at the beginning and end of the clinical period, but the two treatment groups were not separated.

Correlation between bacterial genus and fractional calcium absorption Changes in fractional Ca absorption (SCF treatment-control) measured in urine from 24 to 48 hours are Actinomyces, Pseudomonas from Actinobacteria, and Fami There was a negative correlation with other Eliciterotricchasae from the cutes (the bacterial genus decreased as the absorption of calcium using SCF increased). Conversely, the change in fractional Ca absorption was positively correlated not only with Bacteroides members Bacteroides, but also with Diarysta from Butyricococcus, Osiribacter and Fermicutes (the absorption of calcium using SCF was Increases the genus of bacteria.

  The above results show that the absorption of fractional calcium increased by -12% when adolescent girls and boys were ingested daily for 12 days with 12 g of soluble corn fiber. This increase in fractional calcium absorption is significantly more effective by measuring the second 24-hour urine pool (24-48 hours) after being given the preferred calcium isotope. No significant differences in isotope enrichment were observed in urine collected during the first 24 hours. This is supported by literature that suggests that microbial involvement and lower intestinal absorption are not captured until 24 hours after being given the isotope.

  It is difficult to mention whether the increase in calcium absorption observed in this study resulted in bone mineral deposition because no effect was observed with calcium retention. Excrement calcium measurements are very diverse; 34 sample sizes are 0.05 with alpha error, 0.05% verification power, and stagnant calcium with a standard deviation of 122 mg / d between participants. This is necessary to confirm the difference of 61 mg. Treatment can elicit effects on bone strength. The two methods have a large difference in SD%, ie 9.1% for cutting force and 41.3% for calcium retention. Assuming that the increase in calcium absorption using SCF is maintained (measured by the more sensitive double isotope method), the data from this study show that treatment with SCF added 70 mg / d. This suggests that the calcium retention is effective. Assuming an adult skeleton has 900 g of calcium, in one year this would account for 2.8% of an additional 25 g of calcium or systemic calcium.

  In conclusion, the intake of 12 g / d SCF had a positive effect on calcium absorption in adolescent girls and boys. SCF-induced absorption occurs after 24 hours, which may indicate less intestinal association. A significant increase was observed in the proportion of Bifidobacteria and Bacteroidetes members that are resistant starch fermenters.

Example 3
Object and method
The method involving SCF dietary treatment (10 g / day dose ( "D10") and 20 g / day dose ( "D20")), and without (0 g / day dose ( "D0")) gut in a representative sample The phase composition was confirmed using an Illumina MiSeq high throughput sequence instead of the 454 pyro sequence. The data will be used to confirm a proportional increase or decrease in the population associated with differences in dietary supplementation. There are five steps for the intestinal microbial community analysis performed: (1) The collected excrement samples were homogenized with the DNA extraction preparation at the start and end of each randomly assigned dietary SCF supplementation (103 people who did not submit the excrement sample at the start of D0) A total of 6 samples per subject). (2) DNA of total excreta was extracted using Fast DNA ^™ Soil Spin kit and Fast Prep ^™ system. (3) The extracted DNA was treated with PCR using a primer targeting the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. (4) The PCR product was sequenced using Illumina MiSeq. (5) The sequence was analyzed using the QIIME pipeline to confirm the quantitative change of members of the microbial community due to soluble corn fiber treatment.

Excrement Treatment and DNA Extraction Frozen excrement samples were processed and DNA was extracted as provided in Example 2.

Microbial community organization The phylogenetic diversity of the bacterial community was confirmed using the 16S rRNA gene sequence obtained from the high-throughput paired-end MiSeq technology (Illumina) and using primers that amplify the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene . Multiple samples were run and differentiated using a combination of 8-bp tagged forward primer and 8-bp tagged reverse primer using a step-out protocol with two PCR progressions. Specifically, the first PCR amplifies the 16S rRNA gene derived from the excrement sample extract. Uncontaminated primers and nucleotides were separated from PCR amplicons using the Agencourt AMPURE XP kit (Becker). Using the second PCR, bitag was added to the amplicon required for the Illumina sequence (from the first progression) and purified again using the Agencourt AMPURE XP kit. All PCRs were performed using Q5® High Fidelity DNA polymerase (New England Biolabs) to minimize the error rate during polymerization. Purified amplicons were quantified by fluorescence analysis after staining with a PicoGreen DNA assay kit. The amplicons of each sample were combined in equal amounts arranged using a MiSeq equipment (Illumina).

Sequence analysis Sequences were pretreated to remove primer tags and low quality sequences, and then analyzed using the QIIME pipeline. The MiSeq Illumina sequence of the 16S rRNA gene fragment was analyzed using both the phylogenetic tree described in OTU and the phylogenetic tree described in taxonomy. OTUs were defined as a group based strictly on sequence similarity but were not assigned to a known taxonomy. After the sequence was first prefiltered, OTU assignment was performed using the Greengenes core sequence (as recommended by the QIIME developer) using the uclust method and a 60% threshold. A representative OTU sequence was obtained after sequence alignment with PyNast, and sequences that were not aligned with the Greengenes core sequence were filtered out. Classification assignments were made using an RDP classifier and Greengenes database with 80% confidence intervals. Dilution analysis was used to obtain an estimate of community coverage. An alpha biodiversity estimate was calculated to compare the microflora diversity within a subject under a particular SCF treatment. Comparison of beta diversity between communities was performed using not only “Fast UniFrac” analysis of phylogenetic distance but also non-phylogenetic distance analysis using Euclidean distance. All alpha and beta diversity measures are based on an equivalent number of taxon randomly selected using multiple dilution analysis results (10 replicates) (based on the minimum number of sequences obtained from a single sample) ).

Statistical analysis Friedman analysis (nonparametric equivalent to ANOVA) was used to generally compare the average proportions of subjects at the beginning (B) and end (E) of each SCF treatment. The Wilcoxon code rank test was then used to confirm pairwise comparisons of significant differences between the samples at the end as well as at the start and end of each processor. Student T-test was used to confirm significant differences between alpha diversity measurements. Significant differences in beta diversity between communities are the perMANOVA nonparametric multivariate available in Paleonological Statistics package version 2.16 (PAST software, http://folk.uio.no/ohammer/past/index.html) Confirmed using statistical tools. Bonferroni correction was applied to all statistical tests.

Results The number of excreta samples analyzed for 28 subjects was 167, per person except for one subject who did not provide the starting sample during the 0 g-feeding experiment. Six samples were collected (Table 7). For this reason, the statistical results presented in this report were based on data from only 27 subjects. Subjects received 10 g / day SCF (D10), 20 g / day SCF (D20), and no-SCF (D0).

A total of 12,979,388 high quality integrated sequences of sequences were obtained using a MiSeq Illumina sequence with an average of 77,720.9 sequences (± 28,401) per sample, and per sample The sequence range was 28,854 to 262,312 (Table 7). The lowest number of sequences obtained was 28,854, so all subsequent analyzes were performed on dilution analysis on 28,800 sequences per sample. To obtain a data set that was subjected to dilution analysis, randomly selected 28,800 sequences from each data set 10 times, then integrated the data set and represented each sample 28,800 sequence sets were obtained.

Comparison of gates represented by sequence data 13 gates found in the microbial community of 28 subjects, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Pharmacutes, Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria, Fusobacterium, There was Lentisphaerae, Synergistes, TM7, Teneriquetes, [Thermi], and Verrucomicrobia. In addition, the primer amplified an archaeal domain that cannot be classified at present and a partial sequence derived from other bacteria. However, over 99% of the sequences were derived from 4 gates, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Farmicutes and Proteobacteria. For all samples of all subjects, Fermicutes is the dominant gate with an average of 65.8%, followed by Bacteroidetes (26.0%), Actinobacteria (6.2%) and Proteobacteria (1 8%) (FIG. 1). There was no significant difference in the proportion of portals between the starting and ending samples of the SCF test treatment group. There was no significant difference in taxonomic class and eye level. Archaea are an important group to be monitored in the future, but since they do not use primers for this study, it is appropriate to use their presence (or absence) in our assessment. Did not conclude that it did not seem.

The taxon ANOVA at the comparative level of the family represented by the sequence data indicated that there was a significant difference only within the Bacteroidetes gate. Bacteroidetes include Bacteroidaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, Prevotellaceae and Rikenellaceae, and Tententivee. [Paraprebotellasae], [Week Serasee], RF16, S24-7 and three other families. Classes listed as [provisional] and “other” families are not yet officially classified, but mainly the molecules for which these groups are not representative for classification assignment. This is because it was discovered recently based on a statistical analysis. ANOVA represented that there was a significant difference in Porphyromonadaceae supported by Bonferroni correction (p <0.0001).

Comparison of genera represented by sequence data For additional analysis, similar comparisons were made at the genus level of phylogenetic classification using non-parametric statistical analysis. Of the 235 genera (or genus equivalents) identified in the analysis of all sequenced subject samples, only a subset of 24 genera contains more than 1% community in at least one sample, About 90% (results not shown). Some genera made up a small part of the community, but these were significantly different. Based on Friedman analysis with Bonferroni correction (non-parametric analysis equivalent to ANOVA), the genera with significant differences were based on parabacteroides, bacteroides, drea, lacnospira, unclassified luminococcus, unclassified lacnospiraceae and "others" Of bacteria (Table 8).

  A pairwise comparison (Wilcoxon signed rank test with Bonferroni correction) of all the genera was performed on the starting sample and the ending sample collected within the SCF process, and these taxa were significantly different. Confirmed the treatment. The proportions of Parabacteroides and unclassified Lacnospiraceae (Table 8) were significantly greater at the end of diets D10 and D20 when compared to the start. Also, at the end of diet D10, Achermancia increased significantly and reclassified [Luminococcus] decreased. At the end of diet D20, Bacteroides and Lacnospira were significantly reduced. At the end of diet D0, there was a significant decrease in “other” bacteria, but this is not a single classification group. Thus, unlike the other two diet treatments, there was no significant difference in taxonomic groups in the subject after ingesting diet D0.

  In addition, pair-wise comparison of end samples of diets D10, D20 and D0 confirmed community differences (Table 9). There was a potential gene dosage effect on Parabacteroides, which was expressed in a significantly greater proportion after diet D20 than after diet D0 when compared to D10. Similar trends were also observed in unclassified Laccinospirae and Dialista, which were significantly greater at the end of diets D10 and D20 when compared to D0, but diets D10 and D20 were not significantly different. Also, the proportion of Bifidobacterium was significantly greater at the end of diet D20 when compared to D0. The proportion of Anaerostipes, Drea, reclassified [Luminococcus], and unclassified Erichiperotrichaceae was significantly lower when compared to D0 at the end of diet D10 and / or D20. There was a significant difference in the proportion of [Lumicoccus], Enterococcus and Campylobacter reclassified at the start of the SCF diet treatment. The significantly larger proportion of [Lumicoccus] reclassified at the start of diet D20 was a potential factor that could find a significant difference in the comparison of the sample at the start and end of this classification. It was.

  Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, the increased proportion of parabacteroides, unclassified Lactospilaceae and Dialista after diets D10 and D20 suggests that these microorganisms are involved in SCF fermentation.

Comparison of alpha diversity There was a significant difference (p <0.05) in alpha diversity measurements between the starting and ending communities under each SCF diet (Table 10). Alpha diversity provides a metric for diversity within the process. Using Chao1 measurements, these differences were confirmed in both SCF diets D10 and D20 but not in D0 (Table 10, FIG. 5). On the other hand, using the observed chemical species, the difference was significant only in diet D20. No significant difference was confirmed for the PD hole tree (Whole Tree) (Table 10a). A pair-wise comparison of diversity in the end sample showed that there was a significant difference between all Chao1 values and between the end of D10 and D20 versus D0. The difference in significance among the diversity indicators tested is because the algorithm for each of these alpha diversity measures is very different from the emphasis on different categories. For example, the PD hole tree is a phylogenetic measurement, but the other two are not. Chao1 is a measure of species richness and the sum of observed species below the number of distinct OTUs. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the SCF diet increased the number of taxa in the sample.

Community Comparison Using Beta Diversity Comparison between communities (beta diversity) showed that some community separations depend on the distance measurements used. Try non-phylogenetic Euclidean distances (Binary Euclidian and Ray Curtis), and phylogenetic distances with jackknives (Unifrac G, Unifrac weighted and Unifrac unweighted) to see differences in community structure between samples, Factors that can contribute to the difference were confirmed. Non-phylogenetic Euclidean Distance Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) clustering refers to the communities at the end of D10 and D20 of the SCF process that separate from the end of D0, and all starting samples (FIGS. 6 and 7). . Separation was most evident using the binary Euclidean distance (Figure 7). Separation can be seen across the first PCoA axis accounting for 12.11% deviation, and to some extent over the second PCoA axis explaining 9.48% deviation. On the other hand, using any Unifrac phylogenetic distance, the clustering of samples was more dependent on the object than on processing (eg, Unifrac G, FIG. 8). This indicates that the phylogenetic configuration of the community is more similar among the objects than between the objects. This is similar to previous reports regarding high deviations between human gut microbiota. These Euclidean and phylogenetic distances are calculated using different categories that provide an understanding of the factors that contribute to differences in gut microbiota communities. For example, the Euclidean distance is based on the presence or absence of all OTUs (operation classification units) in each community. This indicates that the presence or absence of a particular taxon contributes to community differences.

Nonparametric permutation multivariate ANOVA
Bonferroni-corrected nonparametric permutation multivariate ANOVA (perMANOVA) represented significant differences between treatments observed as clusters in the main coordinate (PCoA) scatter plot of the beta diversity analysis. Significant differences were observed between communities in samples from the beginning and end samples of diets D10 and D20, each of these starting samples measuring the Euclidean distance (Bray Curtis, binary Euclidian). But no phylogenetic measurements were used (Table 11, results are also shown in FIGS. 6-8). In addition, there was a significant difference in Euclidean and Breakerstis distances between samples at the end of diet D20 compared to end D0. Each sample of diets D10 and D0 was also significantly different only when using the Euclidean distance. There was also a difference in the Unifrac G distance, but the difference was also observed between the starting samples, which may not be the result of the SCF process. Although there was a more significant difference before Bonferroni correction (Table 11), we focused on a more severe cut-off. However, data is included in the report because Bonferroni's severity can include false negatives. Regardless, these results suggest that the subject's microbial community at the end of SCF diet treatment D20 is most different, which codes for the highest SCF dose given to the subject.

  The foregoing descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations and modifications are possible in light of the above presentation. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the claims and their equivalents.

Claims (99)

  A method of increasing one or more selected colonic bacterial populations in a subject comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a fermentable soluble fiber.   The method of claim 1, wherein the fermentable soluble fiber is soluble corn fiber. Fermentable soluble fiber
Heating an aqueous feed composition comprising at least one monosaccharide or linear saccharide oligomer and having a solids concentration of at least about 70% by weight to a temperature of at least about 40 ° C .; and breaking the feed composition into a glucosyl bond Or contacting with at least one catalyst that accelerates the rate of formation and contacting for a time sufficient to induce formation of a non-linear saccharide oligomer;
The product composition is made to contain higher concentrations of non-linear saccharide oligomers than linear saccharide oligomers,
The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the product composition comprises a non-linear saccharide oligomer having a degree of polymerization of at least 3 at a concentration of at least about 20% by weight, based on dry solids. The fermentable soluble fiber comprises a major amount of linear saccharide oligomers and non-linear saccharide oligomers based on dry solids,
The concentration of the non-linear saccharide oligomer is greater than the concentration of the linear saccharide oligomer;
4. The process according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the concentration of the non-linear saccharide oligomer having a degree of polymerization of at least 3 is at least about 20% by weight, based on dry solids.   5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more bacterial populations are selected from the genera Parabacteroides, Butyricicoccus, Oscilbacter and Dialister. The method according to one item.   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is derived from the genus Parabacteroides.   7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the one or more bacterial populations are selected from the genus Bacteroides, Butyricococcus, Osiribacter and Dialista.   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is derived from the genus Bacteroides.   9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is from the genus Butyricococcus.   10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is from the genus Osiribacter.   11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is derived from the genus Dialista.   One or more bacterial populations are selected from the genus Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Alistipes, Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium, Clostridiales 12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the method is selected from the genera in the family and the genera in the family Ruminococcaceae.   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is derived from the genus Bifidobacterium.   14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is from the genus Aristipes.   15. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is from the genus Anaerococcus.   16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is derived from the genus Catenibacterium.   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is derived from a genus within the order of the Clostridiares.   18. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is from a genus within the family Luminococcaceae.   19. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the one or more bacterial populations are selected from the genera Parabacteroides, Dialista, Akkermansia, and Rachnospiraceae.   20. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is from the genus Akermancia.   21. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is derived from a genus within Lacnospiraceae.   24. The method of any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the one or more colonic bacterial populations are increased by at least about 10% relative to an untreated subject.   24. The method of any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the one or more colonic bacterial populations are increased by at least about 50% compared to an untreated subject.   14. The method of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein each colonic bacterial population is increased by at least about 10% relative to an untreated subject.   25. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the administration is performed such that the pH of the excrement is reduced by at least about 1.5 pH units.   25. The method of any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the administration is such that the pH of the excrement is reduced by at least about 2 pH units.   27. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the pH of the excreta is reduced to about 5.5 or less.   27. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the pH of the waste is reduced to a value in the range of about 4 to about 5.   25. The method of any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the administration is performed such that the pH of the waste is reduced to at least about 7 to about 4.5.   30. The method of any one of claims 1 to 29, wherein an increase in colonic bacterial population and / or a decrease in pH increases the bioavailability of minerals (e.g., calcium).   33. The method of any one of claims 1 to 32, wherein the method further increases mineral absorption in the subject.   32. The method of claim 31, wherein the mineral is calcium.   32. The method of claim 31, wherein the mineral is calcium, magnesium, and / or iron.   34. A method according to any one of claims 31 to 33, wherein mineral absorption is increased by at least about 35% compared to an untreated subject.   35. The method of any one of claims 1-34, wherein the soluble corn fiber has a fiber content ranging from about 70% (w / w) to about 100% (w / w).   36. The method of any one of claims 1 to 35, wherein the soluble corn fiber has a monosaccharide and disaccharide content of less than about 20%.   37. The method of any one of claims 1 to 36, wherein the soluble corn fiber oligosaccharides have an average degree of polymerization ranging from about 5 to about 20.   38. The method of any one of claims 1 to 37, wherein the oligosaccharide portion of the soluble corn fiber remains substantially undigested in the subject's stomach and small intestine upon ingestion.   39. The method of any one of claims 1 to 38, wherein the soluble corn fiber is administered at a rate of at least about 2.5 g / day.   40. The method of any one of claims 1 to 39, wherein the soluble corn fiber is administered at a rate of at least about 10 g / day.   41. The method of any one of claims 1 to 40, wherein the soluble corn fiber is administered at a rate of about 100 g / day or less.   42. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 41, wherein the soluble corn fiber is administered once a day.   42. The method of any one of claims 1 to 41, wherein the soluble corn fiber is administered twice or three times a day.   44. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 43, wherein the subject is a mammal.   45. The method of claim 44, wherein the subject is a human.   46. The method of claim 45, wherein the human is age in the range of about 2 years to about 20 years.   48. The method of claim 46, wherein the human is age in the range of about 13 years to about 19 years.   44. The method of any one of claims 1 to 43, wherein the subject is a human at least about 45 years old.   45. The method of any one of claims 1 to 44, wherein the administration is performed for at least 2 weeks.   50. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 49, wherein the composition comprises at least 2.5 g soluble corn fiber per serving.   51. The method of claim 50, wherein the composition comprises at least 3 g soluble corn fiber per serving.   52. The method of claim 51, wherein the composition comprises at least 4 grams of soluble corn fiber per serving.   53. The method of claim 52, wherein the composition comprises at least 6 grams of soluble corn fiber per serving.   54. A method according to any one of claims 50 to 53, wherein the composition comprises no more than 100 g soluble corn fiber per serving.   55. A method according to any one of claims 50 to 54, wherein the serving size is at least about 75g.   56. The method of claim 55, wherein the serving size is at least about 150g.   57. The method of claim 56, wherein the serving size is about 1000 g or less.   58. The method of any one of claims 1 through 57, wherein the composition comprises soluble corn fiber in an amount of at least about 2.5% by weight.   59. The method of claim 58, wherein the composition comprises soluble corn fiber in an amount of at least about 3% by weight.   60. The method of claim 59, wherein the composition comprises soluble corn fiber in an amount of at least about 5% by weight.   61. The method of claim 60, wherein the composition comprises soluble corn fiber in an amount of at least about 10% by weight.   62. A method according to any one of claims 58 to 61, wherein the composition comprises soluble corn fiber in an amount up to about 75% by weight.   62. A method according to any one of claims 58 to 61, wherein the composition comprises soluble corn fiber in an amount up to about 50% by weight.   An edible composition comprising one or more bacterial populations.   65. The edible composition of claim 64, comprising one or more bacterial populations selected from the genus Bacteroides, Butyricococcus, Osiribacter and Dialista. Including two or more bacterial populations,
65. The edible composition according to claim 64, each derived from a different genus selected from the genus Bacteroides, Butyricococcus, Osiribacter and Dialista. Including 3 or more bacterial populations,
65. The edible composition according to claim 64, each derived from a different genus selected from the genus Bacteroides, Butyricococcus, Osiribacter and Dialista.   68. The edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 67, comprising one or more bacterial populations selected from the genus Parabacteroides, Butyricococcus, Osiribacter and Dialista. Including two or more bacterial populations,
68. The edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 67, each derived from a different genus selected from the genus Parabacteroides, Butyricococcus, Osiribacter and Dialista. Including two or more bacterial populations,
68. The edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 67, each derived from a different genus selected from the genus Parabacteroides, Butyricococcus, Osiribacter and Dialista.   One or more bacterial populations selected from the genus Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Aristipes, Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium, Clostridiales, and genera within the family Luminococcaceae, 71. The edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 70. Including two or more bacterial populations,
Each derived from a different genus selected from the genus Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Aristipes, Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium, Clostridiares, and the genus Lumicoccaceae Item 71. The edible composition according to any one of Items 64 to 70. Including 3 or more bacterial populations,
Each derived from a different genus selected from the genus Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Aristipes, Anaerococcus, Catenibacterium, Clostridiares, and the genus Lumicoccaceae Item 71. The edible composition according to any one of Items 64 to 70.   74. An edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 73, comprising one or more bacterial populations selected from the genera Parabacteroides, Dialista, Akermancia, and Racnospiraceae. Including two or more bacterial populations,
74. The edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 73, each derived from a different genus selected from the genera Parabacteroides, Dialista, Akermancia, and Racnospiraceae. Including 3 or more bacterial populations,
74. The edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 73, each derived from a different genus selected from the genera Parabacteroides, Dialista, Akermancia, and Racnospiraceae.   77. The edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 76, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is derived from the genus Bacteroides.   78. The edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 77, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is derived from the genus Parabacteroides.   79. The edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 78, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is derived from the genus Aristipes.   80. The edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 79, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is derived from the genus Bifidobacterium.   81. The edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 80, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is derived from the genus Butyricoccus.   82. The edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 81, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is derived from the genus Osiribacter.   83. The edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 82, wherein at least one of the one or more bacterial populations is derived from the genus Dialista.   84. The edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 83, wherein the edible composition does not comprise fermentable soluble fiber.   84. The edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 83, further comprising a fermentable soluble fiber.   84. The edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 83, further comprising a soluble corn fiber.   87. The edible composition of claim 86, wherein the composition comprises at least 2.5g soluble corn fiber per serving.   87. The edible composition of claim 86, wherein the composition comprises at least 6g soluble corn fiber per serving.   90. The edible composition of claim 86, wherein the composition comprises no more than about 100 g soluble corn fiber per serving.   90. The edible composition according to any one of claims 86 to 89, wherein the serving size is at least about 75g.   92. The edible composition according to any one of claims 86 to 90, wherein the composition comprises soluble corn fiber in an amount of at least about 2.5% by weight.   92. The edible composition according to any one of claims 86 to 90, wherein the composition comprises soluble corn fiber in an amount of at least about 10% by weight.   93. The edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 92, wherein the composition further comprises one or more mineral species.   94. The edible composition according to claim 93, wherein the mineral species is a calcium salt.   95. The edible composition of claim 93 or claim 94, wherein the mineral species is provided in a dose or amount of mineral of at least about 50 mg per serving.   96. The edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 95, wherein the composition is provided in the form of a food composition.   Food composition is baked food, breakfast cereal, dairy product, bean product, confectionery product, jam and jelly, drink (powder type and / or liquid), shake, filling, yogurt (dairy yogurt and non-dairy yogurt), kefir (Kefir), extruded and sheet snacks, gelatin desserts, snack bars, meal substitutes and energy bars, cheese and cheese sauces (dairy and non-dairy cheese), edible and water soluble films, soups, syrups, tabletops Sweetener, nutritional supplement, sauce, dressing, creamer, icing, ice cream, frosting, glaze, pet food, tortilla, meat and fish, dried fruit, infant food, and dough and clothes 96. An edible composition according to claim 96.   98. The edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 97, wherein the food composition is in the form of an agglomerated powder, a nutritional supplement or a medical dosage form.   64. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 63, wherein the method is performed using the edible composition according to any one of claims 64 to 98.